THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


THE    DRIVER    BOY. 


THE  DRIVER  BOY. 


BY   THE    AUTHOR 
OF    8TORIKS    ON    THE    PETITIONS    OF    THE    LORD'S   PRAYER, 


PHILADELPHIA: 

I'ttESBVTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION, 

NO.  821  CHESTNUT  STREET. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1858,  by 

JAMES  DUNLAP,  TBEAS., 

in  the  Clerk'*  (Mee  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  District 
of  Pennsylvania. 


V 

CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  I 

IMAP 
The  Dying  Mother.        .        .....,,        .5 

'CHAPTER  H. 
Mill  Creek  Farm  and  its  Inmates.         .       «        .    31 

CHAPTER  III. 

The  School,  and  an  acquaintance  with  the  Teacher.     59 

CHAPTER  IT. 

Farm  work,  and  a  sad  end  to  it.       v     .     i  .        .82 

CHAPTER  Y. 

Robert  sets  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world. 
— A  friend  in  need. — The  sick  boy.  .        .    100 

CHAPTER  YI. 

His  journey  to  the  blacksmith's  shop. — Meets  with 

strange  companions  there.  .        .        .      123 

(3) 


62272O 


4  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

PAOI 

Life  in  the  mines  and  out  of  them. — The  Christian 

miner.     • 141 

CHAPTER  VHI. 
Peggy  Bright's  cabin. 155 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Sunday  at  the  mines. — Robert  finds  work  which  is 

lawful  to  do  on  the  Sabbath  day.  .        .     169 

CHAPTER  X. 

Robert's  illness  and  recovery. — He  becomes  a  driver 

boy.         .    ,    )!i.     ..-.-*:    i'  ,    .        .        .     194 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Life  on  the  canal.        *   '-  *  • '      .        .        .        .    207 

CHAPTER  XII. 

A  sad  accident. — Its  blessed  results  in  the  conver- 
sion and  happy  death  of  the  poor  outcast  Jpe.  218 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Robert  meets  with  his  friend,  Mr.  Hallam.— Con- 
clusion         .        .        .    242 


f! 
THE  DRIVER  BOY. 

CHAPTER  I. 

THE    DYING   MOTHER. 

AT  the  time  our  story  begins,  Robert  True 
was  about  ten  years  of  age.  His  father  was 
dead ;  and  he*  lived  with  his  mother  in  a 
small  and  almost  ruined  tenement,  which 
her  poverty  scarcely  allowed  her  to  keep, 
still  less  to  have  restored  to  comfortable 
order.  Yet  its  appearance  was  not  uninvi- 
ting, when  nature  was  arrayed  in  her  summer 
bloom.  Its  rude  little  chimney  of  sticks 
arid  clay  peeped  out,  not  ungracefully  from 
the  green  hill-side,  where  it  sheltered  ;  and 
the  wreaths  of  blue  smoke  that  curled  over 
1*  (5) 


6          .  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

the  tops  of  the  huge  trees  on  its  summit, 
gave* an  aspect  of  social  cheerfulness  to  the 
otherwise  solitary  place.  Some  vines  about 
the  doors  and  windows,  and  a  neat  little  gar- 
den of  vegetables  and  flowers — those  native 
jewels  of  the  soil — finished  the  setting  of 
this  home  picture.  There  was  no  want  of 
music  either,  for  many  birds  had  built 
their  nests  in  the  branches  of  the  old  trees  ; 
and  the  distant  noise  of  water  falling  from, 
the  rocky  heights,  sent  a  thrill  of  coolness 
through  the  glen. 

But  summer,  though  lovely  and  bright, 
cannot  last  long ;  and  when  chill  winter 
came,  and  stripped  the  forest 'of  its  living 
green,  and  sealed  up  the  mountain  torrent, 
and  covered  the  hill  slope  with  a  white  man- 
tle, then  the  lone  cottage  looked  dreary  and 
desolate  indeed.  Very  beautiful  is  the  snow 
as  it  falls  in  light,  pure  flakes  around  us ; 
and  very  thankful  should  we  be  to  Him  who 
sends  it  to  us  like  wool,  and  the  ice  in  tiriy 
morsels,  rather  than  in  the  mighty  avalanche 
or  the  huge  bergs  of  the  arctic.  It  brings 


THE   DRIVER   BOY.  7 

a  warm  blessing  'to  the  tender  grain ;  it 
covers  up,  as  with  a  garment,  the  swelling 
germ  of  the  future  blossom  ;  but  by  the 
hungry  half-clad  child  of  poverty,  it  is 
looked  upon  with  an  anxious  and  troubled 
gaze. 

It  is  upon  just  such  a  wintry  morning 
that  we  choose  to  introduce  our  little  Robert 
to  your  notice.  Within  a  sort  of  wood-shed 
or  lean-to,  which -has  been  roughly  put  to- 
gether to  shelter  the  supply  of  fuel  from  the 
drifting  storms,  you  may  hear  the  sound  of 
his  axe,  as  he  tries  its  mettle  upon  some  un- 
usually knotty  specimen  of  forest  growth. 
No  merry  whistle  accompanies  the  ringing 
stroke,  for  the  child's  heart  is  very  sad  ;  and 
presently,  as  he  comes  to  the  door  and  looks 
wistfully  out,  the  traces  of  tears  may  be 
plainly  seen  on  his  cheeks. 

His  history  is  a  very  brief  one,  and  may 
be  told  in  a  few  minutes,  while  the  boy 
stands  thus  in  the  attitude  of  deep  and  sud- 
den thought.  His  father  had  been  a  German 
emigrant — one  of  that  stalwart-hearted  band, 


8  LITTLE   BOB  TKUE, 

who  prefer  "a  faith's  pure  shrine"  in  the 
wilds  of  the  new  world,  to  the  densely 
crowded  population,  and  political  oppression 
of  the  old.  He  came  not,  as  too  many  of  his 
countrymen  do,  to  disseminate  the  errors  of 
false  philosophy  and  practical  infidelity 
among  his  fellows;  but  as  a  minister  of 
Christ  to  a  band  of  his  few  and  faithful  fol- 
lowers. 

For  a  few  years  the  home  of  his  little  fam- 
ily was  made  in  the  rude  cottage  on  the  hill 
side,  near  to  which  some  of  their  people  had 
established  a  settlement ;  but  the  tide  of  pop- 
ulation setting  westward,  and  having  few 
local  ties,  they  were  soon  persuaded  to  seek 
another  and  more  distant  home.  There  the 
little  community  for  a  short  time  throve  and 
enlarged  their  borders.  But  a  season  of 
sickness  came  ;  famine  increased  their  suf- 
ferings ;  the  good  pastor  fell  a  victim  to  his 
ardent  sympathies  and  unwearied  watchings ; 
and  the  little  remnant  of  his  scattered  flock, 
with  the  bereaved  young  wife  and  her  infant 
child,  returned  to  the  spot  that  had  first 
offered  a  refuge  to  their  weary  steps. 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  9 

Little  Robert's  family  name  is  Truefreclit ; 
but  that  being  a  hard  word  to  pronounce, 
and  besides  rather  harsh,  the  neighbouring 
boys,  and  in  time  their  parents  also,  learned 
to  call  him  "  True"  instead ;  and  the  frank 
honest  countenance  of  little  Bob  True 
showed  that  the  name  was  not  unaptly 
given. 

Hitherto  Robert  had  been  too  young  to 
be  acquainted  with  much  sorrow,  but  now 
he  knew  real  grief;  and  this  was  the  reason 
of  the  tears  on  his  pale  downcast  face,  as  he 
looked  on  the  wintry  scene  before  him.  His 
good  mother  had  been  ill  some  time.  She 
had  never  wholly  recovered  from  the  fatigues 
and  exposures  of  her  frontier  life ;  and  the 
loss  of  her  beloved  husband  had  pressed 
heavily.  But  she  had  felt  it  to  be  her  duty, 
not  only  to  resign  herself  to  the  will  of  God, 
but  to  live  in  earnest  for  his  honour  and 
glory  ;  and  endeavoured  to  bring  up  her  lit- 
tle boy  in  the  good  old  way, — the  way  of  life 
and  peace. 

Their  means  of  living  had  been  scanty  ; 


10  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

but  until  within  a  short  time  had  sufficed 
for  their  few  simple  wants.  The  neighbour- 
ing housewives  gladly  accepted  the  services 
of  her  busy  wheel  to  enlarge  their  thrifty 
stores ;  and  the  neat  little  garden,  that 
Robert  had  been  taught  to  keep  so  well,  sup- 
plied them  with  plenty  of  good  wholesome 
food.  But  altered  times  came.  The  restless 
spirit  of  emigration  again  tempted  her 
country  people  westward ;  and  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  sturdy  old  farmer,  who  de- 
clared his  determination  to  live  and  die  in 
the  spot  that  had  first  offered  a  home  to  him, 
the  widow  remained  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
land. 

Christian  Brock  had  always  been  friendly; 
and,  not  belying  his  name,  he  was  a  good 
man,  and  one  that  walked  uprightly.  But  he 
had  lately  chosen  a  new  helpmate  to  fill  the 
place  of  the  faithful  companion  who  had  so 
bravely  trodden  life's  rough  journeys  with 
him ;  and,  as  is  not  unfrequent  where  dispa- 
rity of  years  and  habits  exists,  his  choice 
had  fallen  unwisely.  So,  although  he  gained 


THE  DRIVER  BOY.  11 

to  his  household  a  Martha  both  in  name  and 
practice,  he  failed  to  find  the  virtues  of  order 
and  good  management  united  with  a  care  for 
those  things  which  perish  not  with  the  using. 
If  her  tables  shone  like  mirrors,  and  her 
floors  were  as  spotless,  dame  Martha  was 
well  pleased,  and  thought  it  needless  to  la- 
ment over  the  corruption  and  defilement  of 
her  sin -polluted  heart.  And  while  the  mur- 
mur of  her  great  and  little  wheels  kept  up  a 
ceaseless  noise  in  the  house  both  by  day  and 
by  night,  and  her  bleaching  greens  were 
strewed  with  snowy  webs  of  linen,  she 
cared  not  to  visit  the  widow  and  fatherless 
in  their  affliction  ;  nor  remembered  that  the 
thrift  and  economy  that  enriched  her  own 
stores,  literally  took  the  bread  from  the 
mouths  of  the  poor. 

And  now  for  many  a  day  the  wheel  had 
been  silent  in  the  little  cottage,  for  it 
became  a  principle  with  the  neighbours  to 
emulate  the  zeal  of  the  new  comer  ;  and  when 
sickness  came  in  along  with  poverty,  it  would 
have  gone  hard  with  widow  Truefrecht,  had 


12  LITTLE   BOB   TKUE, 

it  not  been  for  the  stealthy  visits  and  help 
of  farmer  Brock  and  his  little  daughter. 
There  was  a  need-be  for  this,  as  the  good 
man  had  discovered,  to  his  cost,  that  tongues 
can  move  as  nimbly  as  fingers  ;  and  there  was 
no  end  to  the  lamentations  that  were  made 
over  the  extravagance  and  folly  of  his  fre- 
quent charities.  So,  wisely  choosing  to  yield 
to  the  torrent  rather  than  stem  it,  Christian 
Brock  was  content  to  perform  his  good  deeds 
in  secret. 

But  even  these  appeared  to  poor  Robert 
to  have  failed,  as  he  stood  leaning  against  the 
rough  logs  of  the  dwelling,  with  something 
like  despair  chilling  his  young  heart.  There 
had  been  no  visit  from  their  good  neigh- 
bours for  more  than  a  week,  and  the  snow 
had  rilled  up  the  mountain  paths,  and  seemed 
to  shut  him  in  from  human  help.  There 
was  plenty  of  fuel  to  be  had  for  the  ga- 
thering ;  —  and  in  this  the  dweller  of  the 
forest  has  an  advantage  over  his  more 
straitened  neighbour  of  the  crowded  city ; 
— but  their  store  of  food  had  for  some 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  13 

days  become  very  scant ;  and  on  that  morn- 
ing there  had  not  been  the  means  to  fur- 
nish forth  the  frugal  meal. 

Robert  had  carefully  concealed  from  his 
mother  the  desperate  state  of  their  affairs ; 
and,  as  she  remained  for  the  most  part  in 
partial  unconsciousness,  and  able  to  take 
but  little  nourishment  herself,  this  was  not 
hard  to  do.  For  him,  although  to  be  very 
hungry  was  a  novelty, — as  under  the  skil- 
ful management  of  industrious  hands,  want 
had  hitherto  been  a  stranger  to  their 
dwelling,  —  yet  he  would  willingly  have 
borne  this,  and  many  other  hardships,  if 
he  could  but  have  seen  his  dear  mother 
restored  to  health  and  strength  again.  But 
the  sight  of  her  pale,  wasted  face,  and  the 
thin,  transparent  hands  that  grasped  convul- 
sively at  his,  had  filled  his  heart  with  sad 
forebodings ;  and  the  thought  that  his  mo- 
ther was  about  to  die,,  and  leave  him  all 
alone,  choked  him  up  with  such  a  passion 
of  grief,  that  he  had  come  out  into  the  clear 
frosty  air,  to  breathe  freely,  and  give  way  to 
2 


14  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

such  tears  of  heart-sorrow,  as  on  the  sunny 
face  of  childhood  are  seldom  seen. 

He  had  withdrawn  from  his  listless,  mel- 
ancholy post  at  the  door  of  the  wood-shed, 
and  throwing  himself  down  on  his  knees  by 
the  knotty  piece  of  timber  at  which  he  had 
been  hewing  with  all  his  little  strength, 
covered  up  his  face  with  his  hands.  Just 
then,  he  heard  his  mother's  voice. 

She  was  not  calling  him,  but  speaking 
softly  as  if  to  herself,  and  through  the  cre- 
vices which  had  been  made  between  the 
logs  of  the  house,  by  the  falling  of  its  de- 
cayed plaster,  he  could  make  out  the  very 
words.  They  were  part  of  a  quaint  old 
German  hymn,  that  he  knew  quite  well,  and 
had  often  heard  his  mother  repeat: — 

•  "  Lo  !  at  the  door 

I  hear  death's  knock  ! 
Shield  me,  0  Lord, 
My  strength  and  rock! 

"  i"he  hand  once  nailed 

Upon  the  tree — 
Jesus,  uplift — 
And  shelter  me  I 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  16 

"  My  pains  increase  : 

Lord,  stand  thou  near  ; 
Body  and  soul 

Dissolve  with  fear  I 

'*  Now  death  is  near, 

My  tongue  is  dumb  ; 
Fight  for  me,  Lord, 
Mine  hour  is  come." 

And  again : 

"  Though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of 
the  shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil ;  for 
thou  art  with  me,  thy  rod  and  thy  staff  they 
comfort  me." 

"Death!  deatji!  nothing  but  death  1"  The 
poor  boy  felt  as  if  the  dark  angel's  wings 
touched  him  as  they  passed  ;  and  in  the 
chill  and  fear  he  lost  sight  of  the  bounding 
faith  that  had  accompanied  the  beautiful 
words  ;  nor  realized  that  these  were  but  the 
crumbs  of  that  living  food,  which  a  life- 
memory  had  stored  up  for  this  passage  over 
Jordan. 

But  the  very  attitude  that  he  had  taken 
reminded  him  to  whom  he  should  go  in  his 


16  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

sorrow  ;  and  with  not  many  words,  but  with 
the  feeling  of  intense  need,  he  besought 
God  to  be  his  Father  and  Friend.  And  He, 
whose  office  it  is  to  be  the  Comforter,  drew 
near  to  the  child  of  poverty,  kneeling  in 
that  humble  wood  shed,  and  brought  things 
to  his  remembrance, — precious  things  out 
of  the  word  of  life. 

"  When  my  father  and  my  mother  forsake 
me,  then  the  Lord  will  take  me  up,"  repeated 
little  Robert  to  himself;  and  he  arose  with 
a  new  principle  of  faith  and  hope  springing 
up  in  his  heart.  It  was,  perhaps,  the  first 
time  he  had  really  prayed,  although,  ever 
since  he  could  remember,  he  had  bent  his 
knees  and  used  the  words  of  prayer  ;  but  now 
he  had  come  with  a  feeling  of  helplessness, 
and  looked  earnestly  for  divine  assistance ; 
and  to  such  is  the  promise  given,  "  Ask,  and 
ye  shall  receive." 

When  Robert  entered  the  one  apartment 
that  made  their  dwelling,  he  found  his  mo- 
ther, as  he  had  expected,  fully  aroused,  and 
with  more  intelligence  in  her  countenance 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  17 

than  he  had  seen  since  her  illness.  The 
child  was  ignorant  of  the  fact,  that  it  is  often 
thus  with  the  dying,  on  the  confines  of  two 
worlds,  to  gather  strength .  to  look  into  the 
past  and  the  future  ;  and  his  heart  beat  high 
with  a  new  hope,  that  the  danger  was  over, 
and  his  mother  might  still  be  spared  to  him. 
Yet  there  was  something  so  strange  and 
awful  in  the  earnestness  of  her  gaze,  as  she 
followed  his  motions  about  the  room,  and 
watched  him  as  he  laid  down  the  wood  he 
had  brought  in  and  replenished  the  fire,  that 
he  felt  a  portion  of  the  sickening  dread  that 
had  oppressed  him  before,  stealing  back 
again  on  his  heart ;  and,  going  up  to  his 
mother's  side,  he  knelt  down  and  hid  his  face 
on  the  bed. 

The  dying  woman  passed  her  trembling 
fingers  many  times  over  the  bright  locks  of 
her  child  in  silence ;  for  she  felt  that  it  was 
hard  to  part  with  her  only  little  one,  and 
leave  him  besides  so  friendless  and  unpro- 
vided for.  But  God's  peace  was  in  her  soul ; 
and  she  took  firm  hold  of  the  promise  * 


18  ..         LITTLE  BOB   TKUE. 

"Leave  thy  fatherless  children,  I  will  pre- 
serve them  alive." 

"  Robert/'  she  at  last  said  in  a  faint  voice, 
"  listen  to  me,  my  son.  Mother  is  going  to 
leave  you  for  a  bright  and  beautiful  world, 
where  there  is  no  sickness,  nor  sorrow,  nor 
pain,  nor  death,  nor  any  evil  thing.  Where 
God  and  all  good  angels  and  happy  saints 
are,  must  be  a  delightful  land,  Robert.  Are 
you  willing  to  have  me  go  ?" 

The  child  made  no  reply ;  only  the  little 
fair  head  shook  convulsively,  as  if  he  rebelled 
against  the  stern  decree  that  would  take  away 
his  mother  from  him. 

"  My  son,  it  is  God's  will ;  and  it  is  wicked 
for  us  to  fight  against  that.  Rather  let  us 
rejoice  together  over  the  bright  hopes  he  has 
given  to  us  in  the  gospel  of  his  dear  Son, — 
pardon  for  our  numerous  offences,  because 
Christ  died  for  us;  and  an  entrance  into  the 
Father's  house  of  many  mansions,  purchased 
for  us  by  redeeming  blood.  If  you  love  me, 
Robert,  you  will  be  glad  to  have  me  go  away 
from  a  sinful  and  suffering  body,  and  be 
happy  for  ever." 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  19 

"  O  mother  !"  sobbed  the  poor  boy,  "  if  I 
could  only  go  with  you !" 

"  And  so  I  trust  you  shall,  ray  child,  when 
God's  own  time  comes.  But  now  it  is  not 
his  will.  He  would  prove  you  and  try  you, 
and  have  you  live  to  his  glory  here,  so  that 
the  everlasting  victory  may  be  the  greater 
and  crowning  joy.  If  you  would  win 
heaven,  you  must  be  a  soldier  of  the  cross. 
These  things  are  nothing  new  to  you,  Robert, 
for  I  have  tried  to  teach  you ;  and  besides  I 
hope  you  have  had  a  better  teacher,  even  the 
Spirit  of  all  truth,  who  is  able  to  make  plain 
to  a  child  like  you,  what  is  often  hidden 
mysteries  to.  the  wise  and  great  of  this 
world.  But  now  that  the  time  seems  to  be 
so  short, — for  I  feel  that  I  am  very  fast  going 
to  that  better  world, — I  want  to  tell  them 
over  to  you  again,  that  you  may  remember 
them  always." 

Eobert  tightened  the  clasp  he  had  of  the 
chilly  fingers  in  his,  and  pressed  his  lips  to 
them,  as  if  to  signify  how  precious  those  last 
words  would  be  to  him. 


20  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

"First  then,  dear  child,  love  the  Lord  your 
God  with  all  your  heart,  and  soul,  and 
strength.  Pray  to  him  to  lead  you  in  the 
way  of  all  truth,  and  keep  you  from  the 
snares  and  temptations  of  the  world.  Many 
will  try  to  lead  you  astray  ;  but  remember 
the  God  of  your  father  and  your  mother, 
and  shun  the  evil  way,  for  its  steps  take 
hold  on  death.  Love  God's  Sabbaths,  and 
his  holy  word ;  and  never  listen  to  those  who 
profane  his  name,  much  less  dare  to  take  it 
in  vain  yourself.  And  if  you  love  the 
Saviour  here,  and  serve  him,  we  shall  not 
long  be  parted ;  but  be  happy  for  ever, 
through  the  infinite  merits  of  Him  who 
bought  us  with  his  blood." 

Then  joining  her  feeble  hands  over  the 
head  of  her  weeping  boy,  the  mother  be- 
sought the  God  of  all  grace  to  keep  him,  and 
guide  him,  and  deliver  him  from  all  evil. 

They  had  become  calmer  after  this  express- 
ion of  intense  feeling,  when  the  mother, 
whose  senses  appeared  to  have  become  all 
quickened  after  the  long  slumber  of  uncon- 


THE   DEIVER  BOY.  21 

sciousness,  noticed  for  the  first  time  that  her 
little  boy's  countenance  was  pale  and  sunken ; 
and  that,  although  the  morning  was  far  ad- 
vanced, there  was  no  appearance  of  preparing 
food. 

"Why,  Robert,  how  is  this?"  she  said. 
"  The  sun  has  nearly  reached  my  noon-mark 
on  the  window,  and  yet  you  have  not  eaten 
anything.  I  am  sure  of  this ;  because,  although 
you  thought  me  asleep,  I  have  noticed  you 
ever  since  you  have  been  up." 

Eobert  felt  a  keener  pang  of  sorrow  at  this 
remark  of  his  mother,  for  he  remembered 
on  how  many  pleasant  days  she  had  sat  with 
her  wheel  by  that  very  window ;  and  when 
the  shadow  of  the  old  tree  crept  up  its  frame, 
she  had  arranged  their  simple  meal  so  neatly 
on  the  little  table,  and  called  him  from  his 
garden  toil  or  book  tasks  to  partake  of  it. 
But  with  these  touching  recollections  came 
his  renewed  purpose  to  be  firm  and  true  in 
all  things,  even  little  things  ;  and  he  felt  that 
this  was  no  time  to  keep  back  anything 
from  his  mother. 


22  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

Yet  his  unwillingness  to  distress  her 
made  him  hesitate,  and  look  down ;  and  his 
mother,  with  her  keen  glance,  soon  under- 
stood the  cause  of  his  silence. 

"Is  there,  then,  nothing  for  you  to  eat? 
0  E-obert,  my  child,  are  we  so  very  poor?" 

"  Dear  mother,  do  not  distress  yourself.  I 
am  not  so  very  hungry,  and  I  would  not 
have  told  you,  if  I  could  have  helped  it. 
There  was  a  piece  of  bread  for  my  supper 
last  night ;  and  I  have  yet  a  few  spoonsful 
of  the  meal  to  make  your  gruel.  Shall  I  go 
and  get  it  ready  for  you,  mother?" 

Robert  would  have  hurried  off"  to  perform 
this  office  of  love,  but  his  mother  laid  her 
hand  on  his  arm,  and  kept  him  by  her. 

"  When  have  our  good  neighbours  been 
here?" 

'  "  Not  for  a  week,  mother.  There  has 
been  a  very  deep  snow,  and  we  have  been 
alone  for  all  that  time,  for  I  feared  to  leave 
you  here  by  yourself.  I  had  something  to 
eat  mostly,  and  the  medicines  were  all  right? 
and  you  lay  so  quiet,  I  thought  you  would 
be  better  every  day." 


THE   DRIVER   BOY.  23 

"I  shall  soon  be  better.  But  yet  I  would 
not  like  to  see  you  so  unfriended.  Eobert, 
do  you  think  you  could  make  your  way 
through  the  deep  snow-drifts,  to  farmer 
Brock's  ?  Perhaps  the  good  old  man  is  ill 
himself," 

"  I  could  try,  mother — but  how  to  leave 
you  alone  1" 

As  Robert  still  stood  undecided,  he  heard 
the  tread  of  a  horse's  feet  very  close  to  the 
house,  and  a  sweet,  childish  face  looked  in  at 
the  four-paned  window  that  was  opposite  to 
his  mother's  bed. 

"  Come,  and  lift  me  off,  Robbie,"  said  a 
little  voice ;  "  old  White-face  won't  stand 
long,  and  I  have  a  heavy  basket." 

Robert  hurried  out  with  a  step  that  would 
have  been  joyful,  but  for  the  sorrow  that  fell 
heavily  on  his  spirits.  It  was  little  Char- 
lotte Brock,  or,  as  every  body  called  her, 
little  Lottie ; — and  the  child  was  perched  up 
on  a  tall  steed,  beside  a  pannier  basket 
nearly  as  large  as  herself. 

Robert  accomplished  his  task  of  lifting 


24:  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

both  to  the  ground,  with  some  difficulty  ;  for 
Lottie  was  but  little  younger  than  himself, 
and  quite  substantial  in  her  make,  with 
round  rosy  cheeks,  that  looked  like  some  ot 
her  father's  apples. 

"  Ain't  you  glad  to  see  me,  Robert  ? 
We  could  not  come  before,  because  father 
had  one  of  his  old  spells  of  rheumatism,  and 
mother  Martha  wouldn't  hear  of  his  sending, 
or  of  my  coming  alone.  But  mother  Mar- 
tha went  away  to-day  for  a  visit,  and  father 
put  me  on  old  White-face,  and  he  is  follow- 
ing after  with  his  great  staff.  But  I  played 
him  a  fine  trick ;  for,  when  we  turned  the 
hill,  I  ran  off,  and  left  him,  and  old  White- 
face  didn't  miss  a  single  step.  Wasn't  that 
nice,  Robert  ?" 

But  the  child  suddenly  stopped  in  her 
merry  prattle  ;  for,  overcome  with  weakness 
and  sorrow,  Robert  leaned  his  head  against 
the  horse's  neck,  which  he  had  been  indus- 
triously caressing  to  conceal  his  face,  and 
burst  into  tears. 

"  Oh,  Robbie,  I  am  so  sorry ;  is  your  mother 


THE   DEIVER  BOY.  25 

very  sick  ?"  said  little  Lottie,  after  she  had, 
by  many  questions,  gained  some  light  on  the 
subject  of  her  companion's  grief.  "  But 
don't  cry,  she  will  get  well  again  ;  and  we 
have  brought  such  nice  things.  Help  me 
to  carry  in  the  basket,  and  we  will  unpack 
it  before  father  comes." 

Eobert  shook  his  head  sadly,  for  he  knew 
his  mother  was  past  all  help  from  medicine 
or  food ;  but  he  took  his  share  of  the  load, 
and  the  two  children  entered  the  dwelling 
just  as  the  slow  halting  step  of  farmer 
Brock  was  heard,  cautiously  descending  the 
steep,  rocky  path  of  the  hill. 

Lottie  was  too  intent  upon  her  purpose  of 
unpacking  the  basket  "  before  father  came," 
to  give  more  than  a  hasty  glance  at  the  in- 
valid, whose  face  was,  besides,  partly  con- 
cealed from  her  by  the  door  which  opened 
inwards.  Kneeling  down  by  the  well-packed 
basket,  she  drew1] forth  article  after  article 
from  it  with  looks  of  beaming  joy. 

"Here  is  some  bread,  and  ham,  and 
rusks; — those  father  put  in.  And  here  is 
3 


26  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

a  bottle  of  home-made  wine,  and  some  tea, 
and  phials  of  medicine; — those  nurse  Katy 
packed  up,  and  she  charged  me  to  go  slowly, 
or  I  should  break  them.  But  see  here,  Eob- 
bie,  what  I  have  brought  for  you — all  this 
nice  chicken-pie.  Mother  Martha  made  two 
yesterday ;  and  I  begged  and  begged  nurse 
Katy  for  this  one  to-day,  for  I  wanted  you 
to  have  it  so  much,  and  now  mother  Martha 
will  never  know.  And  look  here  besides — " 
Here  the  little  girl,  who  had  been  making 
rapid  journeys  from  the  basket  to  the  table, 
to  deposit  with  eager  hands  the  various 
treasures  which  she  drew  from  its  depths, 
suddenly  caught  a  view  of  the  countenance 
of  the  dying  woman — so  changed  and  even 
fearful  in  its  expression.  The  sight  was  new 
to  her,  for  she  had  never  looked  upon  death 
before,  and  she  stood  for  some  moments  in 
an  agony  of  terror.  Then,  rushing  to  her 
father,  who  just  then  entered  the  dwelling, 
she  hid  her  face  in  the  ample  folds  of  his 
large  coat,  not  daring  to  look  again  upon 
the  face  of  the  dying. 


THE  DRIVER  BOY.  27 

The  tall  form  of  the  old  man  was  just 
raising  from  the  bending  posture  he  had 
assumed  in  stooping  to  enter  the  low  door  ; 
and  uncovering  his  white  head,  he  had  begun 
his  usual  salutation :  "  Peace  be  to  this  house 
and  its  inmates,"  when  his  eye  also  took,  in 
the  solemn  circumstances  of  death.  But 
with  the  natural  shrinking  and  awe,  mingled 
the  blessed  hopes  of  the  Christian — that  "for 
ever  with  the  Lord" — that  being  with  Christ, 
which  is  so  far  better  than  abiding  here  in 
the  flesh. 

As  he  approached  the  dying  woman,  she 
reached  out  her  hand  and  took  his  with  a 
faint  smile. 

"  My  prayer  is  heard.  You  have  come  to 
close  rny  eyes  in  peace,  and  be  a  friend  to 
my  orphan  boy." 

"  As  God  helps  me  I  will.  The  child  of 
my  beloved  pastor  shall  never  want,  while  I 
have  an  abundance  of  the  good  things  of  this 
life.  He  shall  be  cared  for  as  my  own." 

"  The  Lord  bless  and  reward  you.  But 
your  wife — will  Martha  be  to  him  a  .mother 
also  ?" 


28  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

The  old  man  hesitated.  His  generous 
resolution  had  been  made  in  the  warm  im- 
pulse of  feeling;  and  he  had  forgotten,  for 
the  time,  that  he  had  at  home  a  hard  and 
unfeeling  nature  to  deal  with.  But  his  ready 
mind  soon  suggested  a  remedy. 

"If  you  would  agree  to  part  with  him  now, 
and  let  him  become  at  once  a  member  of  my 
household,  I  am  almost  sure  that  Martha, 
finding  him  such  on  her  return,  will  make 
no  unreasonable  objection.  The  thing  will 
be  done,  and  she  will  be  wise  enough  to 
give  way,  and  the  boy's  gentleness  and 
sweetness  of  disposition  will  do  the  rest." 

"  As  you  will.  It  can  make  but  little 
difference ;  for  I  must  soon  leave  him,  if  he 
leave  not  me.  But  oh,  my  child,  my  child, 
how  hard  it  is  to  part ! " 

Farmer  Brock  then,  gently  soothing  his 
little  girl  who  still  clung  to  him,  led  her  up 
to  the  bedside  of  her  dying  friend  ;  and  when 
Lottie  heard  the  voice  and  saw  the  coun- 
tenance, that  had  always  been  familiar  and 
dear  to  hsr,  welcoming  her  as  ever  with 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  29 

words  of  kindness,  she  felt  no  longer  afratd  ; 
and  even  raised  no  objection,  when  her  fa- 
ther proposed  leaving  her  a  short  time  with 
the  invalid,  while  he  returned  to  the  farm 
with  little  Robert. 

"  I  shall  be  back  as  soon  as  I  can,  Lottie, 
and  bring  nurse  Katy  to  stay  here  a  while. 
She  will  know  better  than  any  of  us  what  to 
do,  and  at  this  time  her  help  is  very  needful. 
Do  you  think  you  will  be  afraid,  Lottie?" 

"  No,  father.  God  is  here,  and  the  good 
angels ;  and  if  widow  True  sleeps,  I  will 
kneel  down  and  say  my  prayers  to  our  Father 
in  heaven." 

She  then  assisted  in  looking  for  such 
articles  of  clothing  as  could  be  hastily  got 
together  to  protect  Robert  from  the  cold ; 
and  while  he,  passive  and  sad,  and  wondering 
at  this  new  change  in  his  prospects,  sat  with 
his  little  hand  locked  in  his  mother's,  she 
made  up  a  small  bundle,  and  directed  him 
to  fasten  it  on  White-face  as  the  basket  had 
been. 
*"  One  moment,"  said  the  faint  voice  of  the 


30  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE. 

mother.  "Let  me  see  my  dear  child  once 
again  partake  of  the  food,  which  a  kind 
Providence  has  sent  in  this  time  of  great 
want.  And  do  you,  good  friends,  also  sit 
down,  and  share  of  the  bounty  that  your 
own  hands  have  provided." 

Silently  and  sadly  they  obeyed  her  wish, 
although  it  was  a  mere  ceremony  with  all : 
for  those  that  were  not  in  need,  and  for  the 
poor  little  boy,  whose  choking  grief  took 
away  from  him  the  pangs  of  great  hunger. 
After  they  had  concluded  their  melancholy 
meal,  the  dying  woman  took  a  morsel  of 
bread,  and  moistened  her  stiffening  lips  with 
the  cordial  which  they  had  brought..  This 
strengthened  her  spirit  for  the  trial  yet  to 
come. 

And  this  was  more  bitter  than  death — the 
parting  from  her  child.  Closely  did  she 
strain  him  to  her  bosom,  repeating  over  and 
over  again  the  counsel  she  had  given  him. 
Then  commending  him  once  more  to  the  God 
of  all  grace,  her  feeble  hands  relaxed  their 
grabp  on  earth,  to  take  a  firm  and. enduring 
hold  on  the  Rock  of  Ages. 


THE   DRIVER  BOY-  31 


CHAPTER  II. 


CHRISTIAN  BROCK  and  his  little  companion, 
Kobert,  took  up  their  line  of  march  for  Mill 
Creek  Farm  iu  much  the  same  style  as  Lottie 
and  her  father  had  left  it ;  with  this  differ- 
ence only,  that  the  old  man  kept  a  firm  hold 
on  the  bridle  of  White-face,  obliging  her  to 
accommodate  her  pace  to  his  slow  and  painful 
steps  ;  either  to  prevent  the  usual  tricks  that 
her  little  mistress  indulged  her  in,  or  be- 
cause Kobert,  by  his  secluded  and  rather  in- 
active habits,  was  but  an  inexperienced  rider. 
To  the  boy  himself  this  was  a  matter  of 
perfect  indifference  ;  for  his  heart  was  full 
and  sad,  and  his  eyes  bedimmed  with  tears, 
so  that  he  scarcely  noticed  where  he  was  go- 
ing. Only  a  dull,  vague  feeling  was  in  his 
heart,  that  he  was  leaving  behind  him  all 
that  he  held  dear,  and  beginning  for  him- 


32  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

self  the  great  sorrowful  journey  of  the  wide, 
cold  world. 

But  by  degrees  the  clear  frosty  air  sent 
new  vigour  through  his  frame;  and  his  spirits 
rose  somewhat  from  the  pressure  of  that 
first  great  grief  of  his  life.  Then  he  began 
to  look  round  him,  with  some  interest,  on 
the  hills  and  valleys  covered  with  pure 
white  snow,  so  firm  and  unyielding  in  its 
texture  that  the  plunging  hoofs  of  White- 
face  scarce  marked  its  unsullied  surface,  and 
so  piled  in  gigantic  masses,  that  the  tops  of 
huge  trees  on  the  mountain  brows  looked 
like  stunted  shrubs  ;  and  it  became  a  matter 
of  wonder  whether  indeed  earth  would  ever 
again  have  her  green  casket  lid  lifted  up  by 
the  share  of  the  ploughman,  and  bring  forth 
precious  things  from  its  vast  depths. 

Then  the  creek  bound  in  icy  fetters,  taking 
its  name  from  the  substantial  stone  structure 
at  its  head,  whose  great  wheel  could  even 
then  be  heard,  as  it  strove  crush  in  gly  with 
the  fast  congealing  waters.  The  dwelling  of 
farmer  Brock  in  turn  derived  its  title  from 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  33 

this  neighbourhood  ;  and,  being  built  on  an 
eminence  which  sloped  gently  down  to  the 
bank  of  the  creek,  it  commanded  a  fine  post 
of  observation,  and  was  itself  the  admiration 
of  the  daily  throng,  who  passed  to  and  from 
the  old  mill  with  their  burdens  of  golden 
grain. 

It  had  been  the  ambition  of  this  settler  in 
the  new  world,  to  have  his  tenement  made 
to  resemble  as  much  as  possible  those  en- 
deared to  remembrance  in  the  far  distant 
fatherland.  So  that  although  it  was  con- 
structed, like  others  in  the  vicinity,  of  the  com- 
mon dark  gray  stone  of  the  country,  its  arch- 
itecture differed  in  many  respects  from  theirs. 
There  were  the  many  pointed  gables  all 
fronting  the  road — the  irregular  windows 
broken  out  wherever  it  pleased  the  builder's 
fancy,  without  regard  to  taste  or  order,  some 
large,  some  small,  and  often  projecting  so 
far  as  to  render  supporting  pillars  on  the 
outside  necessary — huge  pent  houses  over 
the  angular  doors,  and  in  front  of  the  prin- 
cipal one,  which  was  grotesquely  carved  and 


34  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

panelled,  the  indispensable  stoop  or  stone 
porch,  made  capacious  enough  to  shelter  tho 
whole  family. 

Scattered  around  were  many  outhouses 
for  the  sheltering  of  grain  or  cattle  ;  and 
from  one — a  great  red  barn,  whose  open  doors 
showed  whole  stacks  of  rich  provender — came 
the  dull,  unvarying  sound  of  the  thresher's 
flail.  Old  White-face  carried  her  little  rider 
as  far  as  thedrinking  trough,  which  wasagreat 
hollow  log  at  the  foot  of  a  magnificent  tree 
that  stood  opposite  the  house,  and  here  by 
mute  gestures  declared  her  determination  to 
proceed  no  farther.  So  Robert  had  no  other 
choice  than  to  slide  gently  off  her  back,  and 
with  his  little  bundle  in  hand,  follow  his 
kind  friend  into  his  future  home. 

The  first  apartment  was  a  wide  summer 
hall,  paved  with  brick,  and  furnished  with 
numerous  settles  and  high  backed  chairs  of 
ancient  fashion.  Out  of  this  branched  the 
passage  ways  of  sleeping  rooms,  and  others 
for  various  purposes  ;  and  to  a  door  at  the 
lower  end,  which,  standing  wide  open,  dis- 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  35 

closed  a  cheerful  and  bustling  scene,  the 
steps  of  the  farmer  were  directed. 

This  was  a  light  pleasant  kitchen,  of  di- 
mensions sufficiently  ample  for  all  hospitable 
purposes,  and  a  fire  place  at  one  end  wide 
enough  to  contain  a  dozen  of  moderate  size. 
It  was  then  filled  with  blazing  logs  of  such 
formidable  length  and  breadth  as  showed 
that  fuel  was  by  no  means  a  scarce  article  in 
those  regions,  and  rendered  the  great  iron 
stove  that  filled  one  entire  corner  rather  an 
unnecessary  appendage.  This  was  indeed 
kept  more  for  show  than  use ;  and  its  heavy 
copper  boilers  received  an  extra  burnishing, 
and  its  own  face  a  coat  of  shining  black,  on 
the  return  of  what  was  called  "  cleaning 
day."  Willing  hands  had  by  dint  of  much 
scrubbing  divested  chairs  and  tables  of  their 
original  red  paint,  and  brought  them  into  a 
colour  corresponding  with  the  neat  floor, 
which  was  at  that  very  time  undergoing  the 
daily  process  of  being  ornamented  in  gro- 
tesque patterns  with  pure  white  sand. 

The  person  who  superintended  this  opera- 


36  LITTLE  BOB   TRITE, 

tion  was  the  aged  woman  whom  Lottie  had 
prattled  of;  and  as  she  stood  in  the  middle 
of  the  room,  directing  the  less  practised  hand 
of  a  younger  female,  nurse  Katy  presented 
a  rare  picture  of  the  good  old  German  matron 
of  former  times.  The  silver  hair  smoothed 
back  from  her  broad  brow,  was  scarcely 
covered  by  the  little  round  cap  of  many 
colours  that  fitted  closely  to  the  back  of  her 
head ;  and  below  her  waist  these  locks  de- 
scended in  two  massive  braids,  each  orna- 
mented at  the  end  with  a  bright  red  ribbon. 
The  dress  was  of  striped  linsey  full  and  brief, 
so  that  the  gaily  clocked  stockings  and 
polished  shoe  buckles,  came  in  for  their  share 
of  admiration. 

But  if  the  attire  was  quaint  and  unusual 
to  the  eye  of  a  stranger,  the  heart  that  beat 
so  warmly  beneath  the  laced  bodice  and 
nicely  fitting  muslin  kerchief  folded  beneath, 
was  loving  and  kind,  and  full  of  the  sweet 
impulses  of  Christian  charity. 

She  received  the  little,  pale,  shrinking  boy 
with  all  a  mother's  tenderness  and  care ;  and 


THE  DRIVER  BOY.  37 

having  seen  him  comfortably  placed  in  the 
large  elbow  chair  that  she  had  drawn  up  to 
the  fire,  she  hastened  to  attend  to  what  she 
naturally  supposed  would  be  his  next  urgent 
want — the  calls  of  hunger.  But  farmer 
Brock  put  a  stop  to. her  hospitable  intentions, 
by  explaining  the  state  of  matters  at  the 
cottage,  and  requiring  her  to  use  the  great- 
est dispatch  in  preparing  to  go  thither. 

"  Margaret  must  accompany  you,"  said  the 
old  man.  "  I  will  call  Martin  from  the  barn 
to  get  the  great  sled  ready.  I  also  will 
return  ;  and  Robert  can  stay  here  with  Paul 
till  Lottie  comes  back." 

Old  Paul,  with  whom  Robert  was  soon 
left  as  sole  companion,  and  who  had  hitherto 
been  such  a  quiet  member  of  the  group, 
that,  except  for  his  little  twinkling  eyes  and 
never  resting  hands,  he  might  have  been 
mistaken  for  one  of  the  droll  figures  stepped 
out  o/  the  little  Dutch  tiles  that  adorned  the 
chimney-piece,  was  the  aged  partner  of 
nurse  Katy,  much  older  even  than  his  venera- 
ble master ;  and  yet  the  faithful  companion 
4 


38  LITTLE  BOB  TEUE, 

of  his  toils,  and  partaker  with  him  of  the 
grief  of  leaving  the  dear  fatherland,  and  the 
ties  of  kindred. 

These  good  people  had  followed,  from 
pure  motives  of  attachment,  the  lot  of  those 
whom  they  had  known  and  loved  for  so 
many  years ;  but  once  settled  in  their  new 
home,  their  help  was  neither  small  nor  inef- 
ficient. Nurse  Katy,  as  we  have  seen,  was 
an  able  and  faithful  assistant ;  and  her  hus- 
band was  not  a  whit  behind  her  in  industri- 
ous habits.  His  were  the  ready  fingers  that 
so  skilfully  repaired  the  harness  and  other 
farming  gear,  as  they  fell  into  decay  by  use 
and  age ;  and  it  was  his  daily  task  to  collect 
on  the  premises  all  such  articles  as  required 
his  care,  and  his  great  delight  to  repair 
and  fit  them  for  active  service  again. 

On  this  particular  day,  his  attention  had 
been  directed  to  the  mending  of  the  various 
boots  and  shoes  that  could  be  found  ui  an 
impaired  state  about  the  house ;  and  clustered 
around  his  work-bench  they  were  arranged 
in  formidable  order,  from  the  rough  brogans 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  39 

of  the  thresher  to  the  tiny  pair  that  fitted 
the  feet  of  little  Lottie. 

Robert  looked  with  much  interest  at  the 
old  man,  as  he  bent  over  his  task.  He  was 
a  square,  short  figure,  much  stooped  from 
constant  toil  and  exposure ;  and  the  dark 
woollen  cap  that  adorned  his  head,  with  the 
great  round  glasses  set  in  heavy  black  frames, 
that  were  generally  slipped  to  the  end  of  his 
nose,  added  to  his  quaint  and  singular  ap- 
pearance. He  in  his  turn  seemed  to  consider 
Robert  as  in  some  measure  under  his  care ; 
and  therefore  bound  to  bestow  an  extra  por- 
tion of  attention  upon  him.  It  was  this 
feeling  that  made  him  often  lay  down  his 
work,  and,  having  removed  and  brightened 
his  glasses  with  the  corner  of  his  leathern 
apron,  bring  them  to  bear  in  full  survey  on 
the  little  figure  seated  in  the  large  arm  chair 
on  the  opposite  corner  of  the  fireplace. 

But  old  Paul  was  a  man  of  few  words ; 
only  when  he  did  speak  they  were  generally 
apt  words,  such  as  are  garnered  up  in  a  wise 
head,  and  shut  in  and  guarded  by  discreet 


4:0  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

door-keepers,  even  the  lips,  that  are  often  so 
pliable  under  the  play  of  that  little  unruly 
member,  the  tongue.  But  this  was  upon 
great  occasions,  such  as  unseal  the  fountains 
of  feeling ;  in  ordinary  every-day  life,  Paul 
was  content  with  monosyllables.  So  when 
he  had  repeated  over  and  again  the  abrupt 
inquiries  :  "  Gold  ? — hungry  ?"  and  had  re- 
ceived Robert's  timid  replies  in  return  for 
his  civilities,  there  appeared  to  be  no  farther 
progress  to  be  made  in  their  acquaintance. 

Apparently  the  old  man  was  not  content 
with  this  state  of  affairs,  or  perhaps  he 
considered  the  child's  last  negative  rather 
doubtful ;  for,  after  resuming  and  again  lay- 
ing down  his  work,  he  arose  with  more  alac- 
rity than  could  have  been  expected  from  his 
great  age,  and  opening  a  door  in  a  dark 
corner  of  the  kitchen  disappeared  within. 

Eobert  looked  after  him,  and  saw  that  he 
had  descended  by  some  steps  into  a  cellar 
or  provision  room.  There  was  a  pleasant, 
fruity  smell  from  its  contents ;  part  of  them, 
as  could  be  seen  from  where  he  was  seated, 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  41 

being  mellow,  golden,  and  red-cheeked  ap- 
ples, piled  up  in  huge  bins;  while  heaps 
of  winter  vegetables  spoke  of  plenty  and 
good  living.  Laden  with  a  basketful  of  the 
generous  fruit,  Paul  soon  made  his  appear- 
ance ;  and,  placing  it  on  a  table  by  Robert's 
side,  appropriated  it  to  his  use,  by  simply 
uttering  the  word,  "  There." 

But  little  Eobert  was  too  intent  on  the 
motions  of  his  singular  companion,  to  avail 
himself  at  once  of  his  kindness ;  for,  after 
the  old  man  had  showed  him  by  signs  that 
his  toothless  mouth  made  it  incapable  of 
performing  the  service  of  an  apple-mill,  he 
took  a  stout  cord  from  his  pocket,  and  at- 
taching it  by  a  hook  to  the  mantel  shelf,  tied 
a  fine  Spitzbergen  to  the  other  end  of  it. 
Then  giving  it  a  great  twirl,  that  sent  it 
spinning  about,  he  made  Robert  comprehend 
by  nods  and  smiles  that  that  was  his  way 
of  roasting  and  disposing  of  apples. 

The  boy  watched  the  process  of  this  pri- 
mitive mode  of  cooking  for  some  time  ;  but 
at  last  the  rotary  motion  seemed  to  dizzy 
4* 


42  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

him,  the  nodding,  droll  little  figure  before 
him  faded  from  his  vision,  his  weary  eyelids 
closed,  and  he  fell  fast  asleep. 

How  long  he  slept  he  knew  not,  but  he 
had  a  dim  consciousness,  when  he  awoke, 
of  having  been  with  his  dear  mother  again 
— of  feeling  her  kisses  on  his  lips,  and  hear- 
ing her  last  words :  "  For  ever  with  the 
Lord."  A  gush  of  tears  followed  the  re- 
membrance that  it  was  but  a  dream,  and  he 
should  see  and  hear  her  no  more.  But  when 
his  fit  of  crying  was  over,  he  looked  up,  and 
found  there  was  another  there  besides  Paul. 

It  was  Lottie — little,  pleasant-faced  Lottie, 
with  her  smiling  eyes  that  looked  as  if  tears 
had  never  dimmed  them.  She  was  standing 
with  her  cloak  and  hood  still  on,  warming 
her  chilled  fingers  by  the  clear  blaze.  But 
while  she  answered  Paul,  she  looked  inqui- 
ringly at  his  little  companion. 

"  Yes  ;  I  left  father  there,  and  nurse  Katy 
and  Margaret.  They  are  waiting  for — I 
know  not  what  —  perhaps  till  neighbour 
True  gets  better.  They  said  she  soon  would 


THE   DRIVER    BOY.  43 

be — so  I  came  home  to  take  care  of  Eobbie, 
and  help  you  cook  supper;  and  Martin 
carried  me  back  on  his  shoulder." 

Here  the  lively  child  laughed  merrily  at 
the  recollection  of  what  she  called  "  her  fun- 
ny ride,"  and  its  various  mishaps.  She  was 
proceeding  to  recount  these,  when  suddenly 
her  eye  fell  on  Kobert  again,  and  she  remem- 
bered quickly  how  little  he  felt  like  laughing 
with  her. 

"  Eobbie,"  she  said,  earnestly,  laying  her 
small  .hand  on  his,  "  don't  cry  any  more 
about  your  mother.  She  is  happy  ;  I  know 
she  is.  Her  lips  smile  all  the  time,  and  her 
eyes  look  bright  and  watching,  as  if  they 
saw  the  angels.  Nurse  Katy  says  they  are 
waiting  to  take  her  home  like  the  shining 
ones  that  led  Christian  and  Hopeful  when 
they  passed  through  the  dark  river.  And 
then,  you  remember,  they  went  right  up  to 
the  beautiful  city  with  its  golden  gates. 
But  I  forgot — you  never  saw  my  Pilgrim. 
It  is  a  book,  a  nice  new  book.  Father 
bought  it  from  a  kind  man,  who  came  all 


44  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

through  the  snow  to  carry  good  books  to 
people,  and  tell  them  how  to  go  to  heaven. 
He  said  we  would  love  it  if  we  read  it ;  and 
so  I  do,  and  so  does  father,  and  Paul,  and  I 
mean  you  shall  read  it  too,  Kobbie ;  and 
then  we  will  all  go  together  to  the  celestial 
city — that  means  heaven,  father  says." 

So,  running  hastily  from  the  room,  little 
Lottie  possessed  herself  of  the  precious  vol- 
ume ;  and,  drawing  a  low  seat  to  the  sida 
of  Robert,  began  to  unfold  its  beauties  to 
him.  It  was  indeed  the  "Pilgrim" — that 
blessed  ray  from  the  lamp  of  divine  truth, 
which,  struggling  dimly  through  the  dark- 
ness of  a  Bedfordshire  prison,  has  illumined 
the  world  with  its  brightness.  It  was  the 
Pilgrim,  which,  travelling  from  the  cottage 
to  the  palace,  has  gathered  a  mighty  army 
to  be  the  host  of  the  Lord  in  the  conflict  be 
tween  sin  and  holiness.  It  was  the  Pilgrim 
of  many  lands. 

While  Lottie  was  looking  through  the 
volume  for  the  passage  she  wished  Robert 
to  read,  she  told  nim  in  her  own  childish 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  45 

way  of  the  story  which  has  interested  so 
many  by  its  union  of  simplicity  with  a  pro- 
found knowledge  of  the  wiles  and  devices 
of  the  unrenewed  heart.  She  told  him  of 
Christian's  dwelling  in  the  city  of  Destruc- 
tion —  of  his  feeling  the  great  burden  of 
sin,  and  resolving  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come.  How  he  entered  into  the  strait  and 
narrow  way,  by  faith  in  Jesus  Christ ;  and 
then,  how  he  at  last  lost  his  burden  at  the 
foot  of  the  cross.  Then  she  entered  into 
many  details  of  his  journey  ;  of  his  being 
at  the  Interpreter's  house — of  his  peril  at 
Vanity  fair,  where  his  fellow  pilgrim,  Faith- 
ful, yielded  up  his  life.  How  he  had,  after- 
wards, another  companion,  called  Hopeful, 
who  continued  with  him  until  they  both 
went  through  the  river  of  death.  And  she 
concluded  by  showing  him  that  beautiful 
passage  where  they,  who  had  escaped  to  the 
shore,  came  at  once  "  to  mount  Zion,  and  to 
the  city  of  the  living  God,  the  heavenly 
Jerusalem,  and  to  an  innumerable  company 
of  angels" — which,  in  the  language  of  the 


46  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

allegory,  "  compassed  them  round  on  every 
side." 

"  There  were  also  that  met  them  with  harps 
and  crowns,  and  gave  them  to  them ;  the 
harps  to  praise  withal,  and  the  crowns  in 
token  of  honour.  Then  I  heard  in  my 
dream,  that  all  the  bells  in  the  City  rang 
again  for  joy,  and  that  it  was  said  unto  them, 
1  Enter  ye  into  the  joy  of  your  Lord.'  I 
also  heard  the  men  themselves,  that  they 
sang  with  a  loud  voice,  saying,  c  Blessing, 
and  honour,  and  glory,  and  power  be  unto 
Him  that  sitteth  on  the  throne,  and  unto  the 
Larnb  for  ever  and  ever.'  Now  just  as  the 
gates  were  opened  to  let  in  the  men,  I  looked 
in  after  them,  and,  behold !  the  City  shone  like 
the  sun  ;  the  streets  also  were  paved  with 
gold  ;  and  in  them  walked  many  men  with 
crowns  on  their  heads,  palms  in  their  hands, 
and  golden  harps,  to  sing  praises  withal. 
There  were  also  of  them  that  had  wings,  and 
they  answered  one  another  without  inter- 
mission, saying,  *  Holy,  holy,  holy  is  the 
Lord.'  And  after  that  they  shut  up  the 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  47 

gates  ;  which  when  I  had  seen  I  wished  my- 
pelf  among  them." 

When  Robert  had  finished  reading,  and 
put  away  the  book,  the  little  group  kept 
silent  for  many  minutes.  Robert  quietly 
thought  over  the  beautiful  scene  it  had  de- 
scribed ;  old  Paul  wiped  his  spectacles  very 
often,  and^  shook  his  head  many  times,  as  if 
his  feelings  would  at  last  break  out  in  words ; 
and  Lottie  kept  her  face  steadily  pressed 
against  the  window  panes,  seemingly  deep  in 
contemplation  of  the  snow-paths.  At  length 
she  started,  for  the  old  Dutch  clock  slowly 
pealed  out  the  hour  of  four. 

"  Time  for  us  to  get  supper — ain't  it, 
Paul  ?" 

And  immediately,  like  sunlight  chasing 
the  clouds,  the  grave  shadows  faded  from 
her  animated  countenance,  and  her  spirits 
rose  in  proportion  to  the  unwonted  pressure 
that  had  rested  upon  them. 

"  Come,  Paul,  let  us  hurry  before  mo- 
ther Martha  comes.  I  mean  to  have  stir- 
about ;  because  Robbie  will  like  that,  I  know 


48  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

And  I  will  have  cream  with  it,  real  cream, 
and  not  shabby,  blue  skim-milk." 

So  while  Paul  hung  on  the  great  skillet, 
and  heaped  the  brands  beneath  it,  Lottie 
drew  out  the  table,  and  set  on  it  plates  of 
bread  and  butter  and  meat,  besides  pie  and 
cheese.  Then  quickly  diving  into  the  cel- 
lar, she  returned  with  a  wooden  bowl  full  of 
golden  Indian  meal ;  and  with  stirring-stick 
in  hand,  stood  in  the  chimney  corner  ready 
for  the  first  moment  when  Paul  should  an- 
nounce that  the  requisite  boiling  point  had 
been  attained.  This  was  not  long  waited 
for,  with  such  a  huge  fire  beneath  ;  and  then 
Lottie  had  the  pleasure  of  sifting  in  the  cool 
soft  meal  through  her  small  hands;  while 
Paul,  with  superior  strength  and  nicer  skill, 
salted  and  stirred  it  to  the  required  thick- 
ness. 

All  was  ready.  A  large  pewter  dish  of 
the  favourite  mixture  was  placed  seething 
hot  on  the  table,  flanked  by  Lottie's  promised 
pitcher  of  rich  cream.  In  her  haste,  she  had 
forgotten  both  bowls  and  spoons;  and  laugh 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  49 

ing  at  the  omission,  she  ran  to  the  cupboard  for 
them  ;  but  a  shadow  passed  between  her  and 
it — a  heavy  hand  was  laid  for  a  minute  on 
her  shoulder — and  she  looked  up  into  the 
wrathful  countenance  of  her  step-mother. 

Lottie  had  been  too  busy  and  bustling  about 
supper-getting  to  take  notice  of  the  return  ; 
and  so  she  had  entered  unheeded.  First 
turning  the  key  in  the  cupboard,  and  letting 
it  fall  into  her  capacious  pocket,  mother 
Martha  confronted  the  two  frightened  chil- 
dren. Kobert  had  already  taken  his  place 
at  the  table ;  and  Lottie,  with  the  feeling  that 
she  must  defend  him,  kept  close  to  his  side. 
Old  Paul,  who  alone  had  observed  her  en- 
trance, had  not  ventured  from  his  bench  ; 
but  in  place  of  his  mending  work,  his  knees 
now  supported  his  large  old  Bible,  which 
was  his  common  custom  when  he  foresaw  a 
domestic  storm.  Then  his  seldom-opened  lips 
poured  forth,  in  the  lull  of  the  tempest,  words 
of  wisdom  and  grace  from  the  sacred  volume ; 
and,  as  his  memory  was  good,  and  mother 
Martha  not  over  and  above  conversant  with 
5 


50  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

the  scriptures,  he  often  conveyed  strong  re- 
proof to  her,  by  repeating  texts  which  suited 
the  occasion,  although  not  to  be  found  in 
connection.  But  although  their  apposite 
meaning  often  deepened  the  colour  in  her 
cheek,  yet  there  could  be  no  fault  found  with 
Paul ;  for  he  was  sucja  an  old  man,  and  it 
was  his  constant  habit  both  with  the  family 
and  alone  to  read  the  Bible  aloud. 

So  all  her  anger  turned  on  Lottie,  and 
the  trembling  little  boy  at  her  side.  The  two 
children,  as  they  stood  there,  seemed  of  very 
different  characters.  Lottie  was  fearless  and 
unyielding,  and  perhaps  it  was  this  very 
part  of  her  disposition  that  made  her  an 
object  of  dislike  to  her  step-mother.  Never 
having  experienced  a  tender  mother's  love, 
she  had  not  looked  for  it  in  her  who  was  to 
supply  that  mother's  place  to  her ;  and  she  in 
her  turn  was  displeased  with  the  child,  when 
her  authority  was  constantly  disputed  and 
rebelled  against.  Pun  ishrnent  both  severe  and 
continued  had  no  effect  in  subduing  Lottie's 
unbroken  spirit ;  and  resulted  only  in  in- 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  51 

creased  displeasure  towards  the  author  of  it, 
and  a  resolution  to  conceal  from  her  what- 
ever she  thought  would  be  distasteful,  without 
scarcely  a  wish  to  amend  the  faults  them- 
selves. With  kinder  'and  more  judicious 
management,  these  faults  might  have  been 
lessened. 

Robert,  on  the  contrary,  had  always  been 
the  object  of  fond  love  and  solicitude;  and  his 
never  having  been  exposed  to  the  pitiless 
blasts  of  the  world,  might  have  resulted  in 
want  of  energy,  had  not  Providence  ordered 
the  changes  which  took  place  in  his  circum- 
stances. Yet,  in  the  cause  of  right  and  hon- 
esty}  he  could  be  as  fearless  and  independent 
as  little  Lottie  herself.  On  the  present  occa- 
sion, however,  subdued  by  grief,  and  the 
recollection  that  he  was,  by  one  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  household  at  least,  considered  as 
an  intruder,  he  looked  perfectly  overwhelmed 
with  terror.  Perhaps  he  for  the  first  time 
comprehended  that  eyes  can  glance  fire,  and 
tongues  shape  words  like  arrows. 

But  little  Lottie  stood  the  battery  well. 


52  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

Although  she  knew,  by  long  experience,  that 
her  mother  woulfl  not  bear  any  opposition  or 
reply  from  her ;  yet  she  relied  on  Paul's 
assistance  in  the  hour  of  need. 

It  appeared  that  mother  Martha  had  heard 
the  news  as  soon  as  she  arrived  at  home, 
from  the  man  who  came  from  his  work  to 
attend  the  animal  she  rode;  and  she  was 
therefore  fully  prepared  to  vent  her  displeas- 
ure on  the  absent  ones  for  disobedience  of 
her  orders,  and  in  failure  of  their  appearance, 
upon  any  one  else  whom  she  should  encoun- 
ter. As  usual,  she  began  with  her  constant 
complaint  of  the  unthrift  and  mismanage- 
ment of  the  household  when  she  was  away  ! 

"  It  was  strange  she  could  never  take  a 
day's  enjoyment — no,  not  even  an  hour's, 
without  finding  everything  upside  down 
when  she  came  back.  Here  had  she  been 
slaving  herself  to  death  for  years,  and 
striving  to  save  and  manage  as  well  as  she 
could,  and  to  what  did  it  all  amount  ?" 

Paul  read  in  a  solemn  voice  from  his  cor- 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  53 

11  L^y  not  up  for  yourselves  treasures  upon 
earth,  where  moth  and  rust  doth  corrupt, 
and  where  thieves  break  through  and  steal. 
But  lay  up  for  yourselves  treasures  in 
heaven,  where  neither  moth  nor  rust  doth 
corrupt,  and  where  thieves  do  not  break 
through  nor  steal :  for  where  your  treasure 
is,  there  will  your  heart  be  also."  Matt.  vi. 
19,  20,  21. 

Martha  darted  a  keen  glance  towards  him. 
She  felt  the  reproof,  but  her  anger  was  not 
lessened. 

"  Some  folks  think  it  is  very  fine,  this  chari- 
ty," she  said ;  "  but  my  religion  teaches  me 
to  labour  honestly  with  my  own  hands.  Let 
every  one  mind  his  own  business,  say  I; 
and  not  be  troubling  themselves  about  their 
neighbours." 

Old  Paul  read  again  : 

11  Pure  religion  and  undefiled  before  God 
and  the  Father,  is  this,  to  visit  the  fatherless 
and  widows  in  their  affliction,  and  to  keep 
himself  unspotted  from  the  world."  James 
i.  27. 

5  *  .-,.*  , 


54  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

"  The  fatherless  !"  said  Martha  wrathfully, 
"  yes,  we  shall  have  this  little  beggar  to  feed 
and  clothe ;  and  who  will  pay  us  for  that,  I 
want  to  know  ?" 

"  Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one 
of  the  least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  have 
done  it  unto  me."  Matt.  xxv.  40. 

"  Whosoever  shall  give  you  a  cup  of  water 
to  drink,  in  rny  name,  because  ye  belong  to 
Christ,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  He  shall  not 
lose  his  reward."  Mark  ix.  41. 

Martha  was  silenced  for  a  while,  but  not 
defeated.  It  was  not  long  before  she  re- 
turned to  the  attack. 

"  Here  have  I  been  the  whole  day  con- 
gratulating myself  upon  the  work  at  home 
being  all  finished  up ;  and  now  I  shall  be 
cast  a  week  behind  hand.  But  it  is  all  your 
fault,"  she  added,  turning  angrily  to  Lottie , 
"  you  are  never  content  but  when  you  are 
runniug,  and  having  the  whole  house  at  your 
bidding." 

Little  Lottie's  eyes  flashed,  and  a  wrathful 
reply  was  trembling  on  her  lips  ;  but  in 
timely  warning  Paul's  voice  was  heard : 


THE    DKIVER  BOY.  55 

"  A  soft  answer  turneth  away  wrath  :  but 
grievous  words  stir  up  anger."  Prov.  xv.  1 

"Pleasant  words  are  as  a  honey-comb, 
sweet  to  the  soul,  and  health  to  the  bones." 
Prov.  xvi.  24. 

So,  after  a  minute's  hard  struggle,  Lottie 
conquered  herself;  and  thinking  that  the 
worst  of  the  battle  must  certainly  be  over, 
she  ventured  to  ask,  in  an  humble  tone  : 

"  May  we  eat  our  supper  now,  mother  ?" 

"  Yes,  you  may,  if  you  want ;  but  mind, 
as  you  have  managed  so  badly  as  not  to 
provide  bowls  and  spoons,  you  may  make 
out  without  them,  and  that  will  teach  you 
to  remember." 

Here  was  a  new  dilemma ;  and  Lottie 
stood  for  a  while,  looking  with  a  pu&zled 
expression  at  the  slippery  mixture  before 
her,  scarcely  knowing  whether  to  be  merry 
or  sad  about  it.  But,  at  last,  mirth  pre- 
vailed ;  and,  with  a  light  laugh,  she  drew 
the  great  dish  towards  her. 

"  Come,  Robbie,  there  is  no  help  for  it  • 
we  will  have  to  eat  like  the  pigs." 


56  LITTLE  BOB  TKUE, 

But  a  look  at  Robert's  sorrowful  face 
soon  changed  the  expression  of  hers. 

"  It  is  a  shame ;  Robbie  shall  have  a 
spoon,  for  it  wasn't  his  fault  that  I  was 
careless.  I  can  get  one  at  any  rate  that 
is  mine.  Paul  made  ^t  for  my  own  dear 
mother,  long  years  ago." 

It  was,  indeed,  a  beautiful  spoon  that 
Lottie  drew  from  a  drawer,  and  laid  beside 
Robert.  Carved  out  of  some  hard,  fine 
wood,  its  handle  and  bowl  ornamented 
with  delicate  tracery  into  a  resemblance  of 
a  twisted  branch  with  leaves  and  fruit ;  it 
had  long  been  kept  as  a  specimen  of  Paul's 
skill  and  tastefulness. 

But  even  the  cherished  spoon  had  no 
power  to  pacify  Robert.  He  was  weeping 
bitterly,  both  from  a  sense  of  present  ill- 
treatment,  and  the  contrast  it  presented  with 
what  he  had  been  used  to  at  home ;  and  as 
Lottie  repeated,  "  It  was  my  own  dear  mo- 
ther's," he  rushed  from  the  table,  and  flung 
himself  on  a  low  bench,  crying  out : 

"O  mother!  mother!  I  must  go  to  my 
mother — I  will  go  to  her." 


THE    DRIVER   BOY.  57 

"  Your  mother  has  gone  to  God,  my  poor 
boy,"  said  a  kind  voice  beside  him. 

It  was  farmer  Brock,  returned  from  his 
mission  of  love. 

"Martha,"  he  continued,  looking  with  a 
grieved  countenance  on  his  wife,  "  it  is  writ- 
ten, '  Take  heed  that  ye  despise  not  one  of 
these  little  ones :  for  I  say  unto  you,  that  in 
heaven  their  angels  do  always  behold  the 
face  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.'  " 

Poor  Robert !  he  was  then  alone  in  the 
world.  How  sadly  he  realized,  in  those 
long  weary  hours,  how  desolate  to  him 
looked  the  dwelling  that  her  presence  had 
made  a  home !  They  took  him  there  on 
that  sad,  gathering  day,  when  friends  and 
neighbours  throng  to  the  final  scene  of  all, 
— the  committing  the  body  to  the  dust  in 
the  hope  of  a  glorious  resurrection.  All 
was  changed  and  still — so  very  still.  And 
beneath  that  little  window,  where  she  had 
sat  and  wrought  with  busy  fingers  at  her 
daily  task,  her  form  was  stretched  stiff 
and  powerless ;  its  rigid  outlines  rendered 


58  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

more  prominent  by  the  smooth  folds  of 
pure  linen  that  were  laid  above  it.  And 
such  is  the  fearful  mystery  of  death,  that 
the  child  trembled  —  he  who  had  clung 
to  the  loving  bosom  even  when  life  was 
ebbing.  Should  he  lift  up  that  shrouding 
veil  which  fell  between  the  living  and  the 
dead  ?  He  almost  feared  to  do  so ;  and 
his  little  hand  shook,  as  if  the  removal 
would  reveal  some  sight  of  horror.  But 
calm  and  peaceful  lay  the  beloved  clay  ;  the 
lips  still  smiling  as  if  her  last  words  lin- 
gered on  them — "  For  ever  with  the  Lord  I" 

"  For  ever  with  the  Lord ! 

Ameu  !  so  let  it  be  : 
Life  from  the  dead  is  in  that  word  ; 
Tis  immortality." 


THE  DRIVER  BOY.  59 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  SCHOOL,  AND  AN  ACQUAINTANCE  WITH  THE  TEACHER. 


Robbie  shall  be  my  own  little  bro- 
ther, now,  shan't  he,  father  ?  And  you  will 
love  him  like  you  do  Lottie  ;  and  send 
him  to  school  too,  father?  I  know  Rob- 
bie will  like  that  ;  and  White-face  can 
carry  two  as  well  as  one." 

"Yes,  I  must  send  him  to  school,"  said 
farmer  Brock,  as  he  smoothed  back  the 
fair  locks  of  his  little  girl,  who  had  perched 
herself  on  his  knee.  "But  don't  you  think, 
Lottie,  now  that  you  have  a  little  brother, 
he  could  help  you  finely  through  the  snow- 
paths,  without  troubling  old  White-face  to 
carry  a  double  burden  ?  That  will  put  some 
colour  in  Robert's  pale  cheeks  ;  and  make 
you  both  brave  and  hearty." 

"  O  yes,  father,  that  will  do  nicely,"  cried 
Lottie,  clapping  her  hands  in  delight.  "  How 


60  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

we  shall  race  through  the  dry  leaves !  and 
how  the  pretty  brown  rabbits,  and  ground 
hackies  will  start  up  and  stare  at  us  as  we 
run  !  But,  father,  I  forgot — "  and  here  Lot- 
tie drew  the  old  man's  face  down  to  hers, 
— "  how  can  Robbie  go  to  school  with  such 
old,  pQor  clothes,  and  such  bad,  leaky 
shoes  ?" 

"  Well,  we  must  think  of  that,  Lottie  ;  I 
dare  say,  good  father  Paul  will  be  willing  to 
make  him  a  stout  pair  of  brogans  ;  and  for 
the  rest — why,  I  think  we  must  consult  mo- 
ther, Lottie." 

And  the  old  man  looked  half  doubtfully 
at  his  helpmate. 

But  mother  Martha  being  in  an  uncom- 
monly fine  humour  just  then,  and  conscious 
besides  that  she  had  not  behaved  well  on  the 
first  evening  of  little  Robert's  appearance, 
was  willing  to  make  some  amends  on  the 
present  occasion.  So  she  answered  graciously 
enough : 

"  To  be  sure  there  are  lots  of  cast  clothing 
in  the  old  chests  in  the  garret ;  and  it  won't 


THE  DRIVER  BOY.  61 

take  long  for  Katy  and  me  to  contrive  a 
pretty  decent  suit  out  o'f  them.  As  the  boy 
is  to  stay  here,  and  be  sent  to  school,  it 
wouldn't  look  well  for  us  to  let  him  go  like 
a  beggar." 

Farmer  Brock  overlooked  the  latent  pride 
of  this  speech,  in  the  satisfaction  afforded  by 
its  spirit  of  conciliation ;  and  forthwith  began 
to  make  sundry  proposals  for  Eobert's  com- 
fort, which  he  had  hitherto  not  ventured  to 
offer.  Lottie  meanwhile  slipped  down  from 
her  father's  knee,  and  gathering  together  her 
well  thumbed  school-books,  beckoned  "Robert 
to  a  distant  corner ;  and  the  two  were  soon 
engaged  in  comparing  notes  on  their  know- 
ledge of  the  various  branches  of  learning. 

It  was  a  bright  home  picture  the  old  farm 
house  presented  that  winter  evening,  some 
two  or  three  weeks  after  Eobert  became  an 
inmate  of  it.  The  huge  logs  that  were 
blazing  on  the  wide  hearth,  made  the 
shadows  creep  away  into  the  far  off  corners, 
and  hide  themselves  behind  the  baskets  and 
barrels  that  were  set  there  out  of  notice. 
6 


62  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

They  lingered  also  on  the  brown,  unplastered 
beams  that  were  hung  with  smoke-dried 
hams,  paper  bags  of  herbs  and  seeds,  besides 
hanks  on  hanks  of  woollen  and  linen  yarn. 
They  played  hide  and  seek  too  within  the 
folds  of  ample  garments  of  all  fashions,  that 
were  stretched  on  wooden  pins  driven  in  the 
wall,  looking,  with  the  broad  brimmed  hats 
that  surmounted  them,  like  men  and  women 
consigned  to  a  terrible  punishment.  As  if 
to  carry  out  the  conceit,  the  fierce  gusts  of 
wind  swept  down  the  broad  chimney,  circling 
the  snow  without  into  wilder  eddies,  and 
striving  wrathfully  with  the  closed  doors 
and  windows,  as  if  an  angry  spirit  demanded 
entrance. 

But  within  the  circle  of  light  made  by  the  ' 
fire,  all  things  wore  a  cheerful  aspect.  Old 
Paul  had  his  usual  seat  there  ;  his  hands  no 
longer  busy,  but  folded  on  his  bosom;  while, 
with  half-closed  eyes  and  trembling  lips,  he 
crooned  forth  some  ancient  melody — one  of 
Zion's  sweet  songs,  linking  earth  with  heaven 
— old  memories  of  fatherland,  with  "  Jerusa- 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  63 

lem,  the  happy  home."  Other  music  was  not 
wanting ;  for  beside  him  his  old  companion, 
nurse  Katy,  sent  forth  the  busy  hum  of  her 
untiring  wheel,  her  still  nimble  fingers 
pulling  out  threads  for  Margaret  to  reel ; 
while  farther  off  mother  Martha  kept  time 
and  step  to  the  motions  of  the  larger  wheel, 
thus  displaying  her  robust  form  in  all  its 
stout  proportions.  In  the  background,  Mar- 
tin, the  farm  help,  was  engaged  in  repairing 
tools  for  future  use  in  the  spring;  at  the 
same  time  listening  admiringly  to  the  little 
scholars,  who  had  chosen  his  corner  for  their 
retreat. 

And,  looking  upon  all  with  a  pleasant 
countenance,  sat  the  good  farmer  in  his  large 
arm  chair ;  his  heart  swelling  with  a  sense 
of  God's  goodness,  and  with  the  peace  and 
happiness  which  follow  acts  of  benevolence 
and  charity.  That  night,  as  he  opened  the 
old  family  Bible,  he  chose  the  language  of 
David  to  express  his  grateful  feelings,  in 
that  psalm  of  psalms,  the  one  hundred  and 
third :  "  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  all 
that  is  within  me  bless  his  holy  name." 


64  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

As  soon  as  the  suit  of  clothing  was  ready, 
Robert  accompanied  little  Lottie  to  the  dis- 
trict school.  This  was  situated  about  a  mile 
from  the  farm,  on  the  edge  of  a  dense  stretch 
of  woodland,  which  gave  to  it  shelter  from 
wintry  storms,  and  a  pleasant  shade  in  the 
summer  heats.  Although  the  section  of 
country  where  it  stood  was  one  of  "the  ac- 
cepting districts,"  yet  the  scattered  nature 
of  its  population,  and  the  lingering  preju- 
dices of  the  old  settlers  had  rendered  much 
improvement  in  the  mode  of  teaching  im- 
possible ;  and  any  attempt  to  render  the 
building  or  its  appointments  more  comfort- 
able was  obstinately  resisted  as  an  innovation 
on  long  established  customs.  There  was  too 
little  spirit  in  the  community  to  combat 
this  ;  so  the  old  school-house  remained  just 
as  it  had  been  roughly  put  together  in  "  long 
ago  times,"  of  the  unbarked  logs  of  the  forest, 
chinked  in  with  mud  plastering.  Many  such 
may  yet  be  seen  by  the  traveller,  as  he  un- 
expectedly encounters,  in  the  more  secluded 
portions  of  our  state,  one  of  these  primitive 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  65 

seats  of  learning ; — busy  hands  it  may  be 
wielding  the  wood  axe,  a  pause  being  made 
between  every  stroke  to  stare  at  the  stranger; 
while  a  bevy  of  bright  eyes  and  sunburnt 
faces  gather  for  the  same  purpose  at  the 
windows,  already  thickened  with  the  un- 
wholesome atmosphere,  breathed  out  and 
again  inhaled  by  childish  lungs. 

This  evil, — the  want  of  proper  ventila- 
tion— and  others,  such  as  bending  for  hours 
over  low-ranged  desks,  without  any  support 
to  the  tender  growing  spine,  and  a  persistence 
in  school  studies  unto  weariness,  merely  be- 
cause such  is  the  appointed  time  for  learn- 
ing,— were  in  part  remedied  by  the  out-of- 
door  amusements  of  the  active  scholars  in 
the  vicinity  of  Mill  Creek  farm.  They  could 
toss  the  ball  with  energy,  bringing  the 
healthy  life-blood  to  their  cheeks,  anft  send- 
ing the  glow  of  health  through  their  frames, 
their  merry  ringing  voices  resounding 
through  the  otherwise  silent  woods,  as  if  to 
attest  the  strength  of  their  yet  uninjured 
lungs.  But  to  their  teacher,  a  pale  dyspeptic 


66  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

student,  the  confinement  of  the  heated  school- 
room, and  the  long-drawn  moments  of  mon- 
otonous employment  were  as  a  living  death. 

Mr.  Hallam  was  a  young  collegian ;  one 
of  those  who,  partaking  intemperately  of  the 
great  "  feast  of  reason"  spread  for  the  demands 
of  the  craving  mind,  forget  that  that  mind 
is  dependent  on  the  mortal  frame  that  enclo- 
ses it,  and  that  the  grosser  part  will  sooner 
or  later  assert  its  injuries.  The  hours  given 
to  midnight  study — the  days  stolen  from 
wholesome  recreation — were  repaid  by  sleep- 
less nights,  miserable  haunting  dreams,  loss 
of  appetite,  and  all  the  other  ills  that  at- 
tend on  impaired  health  of  body. 

But  this  was  not  the  worst.  An  enervated 
physical  system  gave  a  melancholy  tone  to 
the  mental ;  and,  broken  down  in  both,  the 
young^spiring  student  was  compelled,  for  a 
time,  to  relinquish  his  hopes  of  future  useful- 
ness ;  and,  as  he  had  spent  all  his  means  in 
efforts  to  restore  health,  turn  to  other  em- 
ployments. 

In  a  pedestrian  tour  which  he  had  forced 


THE   DRIVER   BOY.  67 

his  enfeebled  limbs  to  perform,  he  discovered 
this  solitary  settlement ;  and  feeling  at  the 
time  out  of  love  with  all  mankind,  determined 
to  bury  himself  in  its  wilds,  and  indulge  his 
melancholy  mood. 

But  Mr.  Hallam  was  a  Christian.  He  could 
not  be  contented  to  remain  a  cumberer  of  the 
ground — a  mere  blank  in  creation — burying 
his  talent  in  the  earth,  without  an  effort  to 
employ  it  for  the  good  of  others.  And  al- 
though he  had  for  the  time  to  be  laid  aside 
from  a  preparation  for  the  office  he  had  so 
ardently  wished, — that  of  preaching  the  un- 
searchable riches  of  Christ, — he  still' felt  that 
he  could  not  live  without  doing  something 
for  the  cause  so  dear  to  his  heart.  So  when 
the  post  of  instructor  to  the  district  school 
became  vacant,  he  offered  his  services  and 
was  accepted. 

But  how  to  do  good — that  was  the  difficulty. 
His  scholars  were  for  the  most  part  rude  and 
ungovernable  ;  few  of  them  well  disciplined 
at  home,  and  fewer  still  engaging  in  school 
employments  either  as  a  duty  or  pleasure, 


68  LITTLE   BOB   TKUE. 

but  simply  as  a  relief  and  exemption  from  the 
harsher  business  of  the  farm  or  mechanical 
labour.  The  noise  and  confusion  that  attend- 
ed the  meeting  of  these  turbulent  spirits  were 
torturing  to  the  sensitive  mind  of  the  teacher, 
and  frequently  at  the  close  of  one  of  the 
seemingly  interminable  days,  his  unstrung 
nerves  and  aching  brain  pictured  over  to 
him  in  dreams  the  scenes  he  had  passed 
through,  thereby  unfitting  him  for  the  duties 
of  the  morrow.  And  what  was  besides  nearly 
as  hard  a  task,  was  the  slow  development 
of  mind  evinced  by  the  younger  children, — 
the  conning  over  of  first  principles,  which 
constituted  so  large  a  portion  of  the  day's 
routine.  Even  their  winning  smiles  failed 
to  soothe  him  ;  and  laughter,  the  ringing 
laughter  of  merry  childhood,  often  grated 
discordantly  on  his  ear.  So,  from  a  want 
of  sympathy,  little  good  was  effected.  When 
the  Son  of  man  dwelt  on  earth,  he  took  young 
children  in  his  arms,  laid  his  hands  on  them, 
and  blessed  them.  And  if  we,  as  his  follow- 
ers, would  imitate  his  example,  we  must  draw 
near  to  those  whom  we  would  benefit. 


THE   DRIVEK  BOY.  69 

Little  Bob  True's  appearance  at  the  Mill 
Creek  school  was  hailed  with  delight  by  all 
the  neighbouring  boys ;  for,  although  he  had 
seldom  kept  company  with  them,  his  oblig- 
ing and  gentle  disposition  had  made  him  a 
favourite. 

The  lonely  situation  of  his  mother,  and 
latterly  her  failing  health,  had  prevented  him 
from  attending  school  as  regularly  as  other 
boys  of  his  age ;  but  as  she  was  capable  of 
conducting  his  studies  at  home,  and  had 
besides  a  ready  tact  for  imparting  knowledge, 
and  firm  Christian  principles  to  guide  her 
aright,  he  was  no  loser  by  this  system  of 
home  training. 

His  acquaintance  with  the  lads  of  the 
district,  therefore,  had  hitherto  been  limited 
to  casual  encounters  in  the  woods,  when  they 
passed  the  lone  hill  side  cottage  in  their 
pleasure  excursions,  or  when  Eobert  had  an 
errand  to  perform  in  the  more  thickly  settled 
portions  of  the  neighbourhood.  He  was  ever 
ready  to  share  their  innocent  amusements — 
to  show  them  the  thickets  where  the  ripest 


70  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

berries  grew — or  the  trees  that  were  most 
abundant  in  brown,  glossy  nuts,  for  little 
autumn  gatherers.  So  it  was  no  wonder 
that  Bob  True  was  well  liked,  and  warmly 
welcomed  when  he  came  among  them. 

Mr.  Hallam  soon  discovered  also  that  he 
had  a  treasure  in  his  new  scholar.  Not  that 
Robert  was  very  brilliant ;  for  his  talents 
did  not  sparkle  on  the  surface.  His  extreme 
diffidence  rather  made  them  like  hidden  ore, 
costing  some  labour  to  develope  their  riches, 
But  he  was  so  very  eager  to  learn,  so  un- 
wearied in  his  efforts  to  acquire  knowledge, 
that  his  teacher  became  insensibly  interested 
in  his  progress ;  and  found  his  own  mind 
strengthened  and  called  into  action  by  im- 
parting information  to  the  forming  mind  of 
cis  pupil.  But  there  was  one  branch  of 
knowledge  in  which  Robert  needed  no 
earthly  teacher ;  it  was  that  which  maketh 
wise  unto  eternal  life.  It  might  have  been 
very  long  before  Mr.  Hallam  had  found  this 
out,  if  circumstances  had  not  called  it  forth. 

One  bright  noon  when  the  children  were 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  71 

all  at  play,  the  teacher  and  little  Robert  were 
left  by  themselves  in  the  deserted  school- 
room. Eobert  had  a  slight  cold,  and  was 
obliged  to  content  himself  with  watching 
the  lively  sports  of  his  companions  through 
the  window,  instead  of  joining  their  plea- 
sant occupation  in  the  free,  bracing  air.  He 
had  followed  with  great  interest  the  erection 
of  a  snow  fort  and  sentinel  of  the  same  per- 
ishable material  to  guard  it,  and  was  wait- 
ing with  some  anxiety  to  see  the  attack  made 
upon  them  by  assailing  balls,  when  he  sud- 
denly thought  of  his  friend  and  teacher  Mr. 
Hallam,  and  looked  round  for  him  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  mirthful  occasion.  But  it 
was  one  of  Mr.  Hallam 's  gloomy  days,  when 
he  was  intent  on  writing  bitter  things  against 
himself;  and  with  his  head  bowed  on  his 
desk,  he  felt  like  one  groping  in  darkness 
and  the  shadow  of  death. 

Kobert  was  grieved ;  for  he  dearly  loved 
his  teacher,  as  he  loved  all  who  were  kind 
to  him ;  and  leaving  the  window  and  the 
sight  of  the  merry  play,  he  crept  away  to 


72  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

his  own  little  desk,  and  busied  himself  with 
his  books.  Some  ten  minutes  had  passed 
thus,  when  the  teacher  felt  the  touch  of  a 
little  hand  on  his. 

"  Mr.  Hallam,  sir,"  said  the  gentle  voice 
of  Eobert,  "  do  you  love  our  heavenly  Fa- 
ther?" 

What  a  question,  and  from  a  little  child  ! 
It  sent  an  electric  thrill  through  the  heart 
of  the  listener,  and  his  answer  might  have 
been  read  in  the  sudden  lighting  up  of  his 
sad  countenance,  as  it  seemed  to  say :  "  Whom 
have  I  in  heaven  but  thee  ?  and  there  is 
none  upon  earth  I  desire  besides  thee." 

"  Because,"  said  Kobert,  modestly,  "  I  have 
found  such  a  pretty  text  for  you.  You  seem 
so  sorry,  Mr.  Hallam,  perhaps  it  will  do  you 
good." 

And  placing  his  little  Testament  on  the 
desk  before  his  teacher,  Robert  pointed  to 
that  beautiful  text  in  Rom.  viii.  32.  "  He 
that  spared  not  his  own  Son,  but  delivered 
him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not  with  him 
also  freely  give  us  all  things  ?" 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  73 

Mr.  Hallam  pondered  so  long  over  this, 
that  Kobert  was  puzzled  what  to  make  of  his 
long  silence. 

"  You  won't  be  angry  with  me,  Mr.  Hal- 
lam  ?" 

"  Angry  with  you !  no,  my  dear  boy,  but 
pleased  and  thankful  to  Him  who  has  made 
you  a  little  ministering  spirit  to  me,  when 
I  was  almost  sinking  in  despair.  You  are 
my  teacher  now,  Kobert.  I  have  been  very 
unthankful  and  ungrateful ;  but  I  will  try 
to  trust  Him  henceforth  who  has  promised 
help  in  the  hour  of  need." 

How  useful  are  little  things  !  God  chooses 
not  the  great  and  the  mighty,  but  weak 
things  and  such  as  are  despised,  to  accom- 
plish his  purposes.  Even  "a word  in  season, 
how  good  it  is  1"  and  such  a  word  had  Ro- 
bert spoken  to  his  teacher  that  day.  Hence- 
forth a  new  bond  of  union  was  formed 
between  them, — that  golden  chain  of  Chris- 
tian love  which  links  believer  to  believer 
and  makes  them  one  with  Christ.  And  a 
blessed  result  of  this  little  incident  showed 


74  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

itself  in  the  awakening  up  of  the  young 
teacher  to  the  work  set  before  him.  Hence- 
forth he  realized  that  he  had  souls  as  well 
as  minds  under  his  care  ;  and  that  he  would 
not  be  held  guiltless  if  he  neglected  them. 
And  whenever  he  felt  like  flagging  in  his 
zeal  for  their  eternal  welfare,  he  seemed  to 
hear  these  words  sounding  in  his  ears:  "  In- 
asmuch as  ye  did  it  not  to  one  of  the  least 
of  these,  ye  did  it  not  unto  me." 

And  now  he  found  himself  contriving 
many  ways  for  their  good,  which  had  hitherto 
seemed  to  him  to  be  difficult  to  accomplish. 
In  these  plans  he  was  helped  very  much  by 
his  little  friend  Eobert,  and  by  Lottie  too, 
who,  influenced  by  her  companion's  exam- 
ple, aided  no  doubt  by  the  teachings  of  the 
Divine  Spirit,  had  become  a  much  more  gen- 
tle and  amiable  child. 

It  often  happened  in  the  sudden  changes 
of  winter  weather,  that  there  would  occur, 
even  after  a  very  bright  day,  one  of  great 
severity  and  terrific  storms.  The  children, 
then,  driven  from  their  out-of-doors  amuse. 


THE   DRIVES  BOY.  75 

ments,  were  thrown  upon  their  own  re- 
sources to  pass  away  the  time  given  to  re- 
creation These  had  usually  been  trying 
seasons  to  Mr.  Hallara,  and  for  such  -he  had 
thought  it  impossible  to  provide  a  remedy. 
But  Providence  opened  a  way,  which  hence- 
fortti  made  these  unoccupied  moments  not 
onlv  pleasant  but  profitable  for  the  remainder 
of  tne  winter. 

One  day  the  storm  was  such  as  to  awe 
into  comparative  silence  even  the  most  dis- 
orderly, and  to  frighten  the  little  ones  al- 
most to  tears.  The  elements  had  commenced 
their  warfare  after  the  scholars  had  assem- 
bled ;  so  that  many  were  present,  who  would 
otherwise  have  been  sheltered  in  their  own 
comfortable  homes.  The  surging  trees,  the 
driving  of  the  snow  and  sleet,  and  the 
blasts  of  wind  that  almost  threatened  the 
old  log  school -house  with  destruction,  made 
up  a  picture  of  awful  sublimity  and  terrible 
grandeur. 

In  the  midst  of  the  war  of  nature,  a  clear 


76  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

childish   voice  began  to  sing  those  words 
which  all  children  love  : — 

"  There  is  a  Lappy  land, 
Far,  far  away." 

It  was  very  pleasant  to  sing  of  that  bright 
home,  that  heavenly  country;  when  earth 
was  so  dark  and  drear  ;  and,  as  one  and  an- 
other little  voice  joined  in,  a  confiding  sense 
of  God's  presence  and  ability  to  help  in  the 
hour  of  need,  calmed  and  soothed  their  trou- 
bled hearts. 

Children  naturally  love  music,  as  they  do 
birds  and  blossoms,  and  all  the  pleasant 
things  that  are  left  to  this  fallen  world  ;  and 
their  little  voices  never  sound  so  sweetly,  as 
when  they  unite  in  praising  God  in  Zion's 
sacred  songs.  Henceforth,  singing  became 
one  of  the  usual  exercises  in  Mr.  Hallam's 
school ;  and,  under  his  judicious  training, 
and  led  on  by  his  fine,  manly  voice,  the  mel- 
ody was  very  pleasant,  and  as  each  group 
tended  its  homeward  way,  it  was  delightful 
to  hear  through  the  echoing  woods;  the 
charming  voices  of  children  singing:— 


THE   DRIVER    BOY.  77 

"  Oh  i  that  will  be  joyful,  joyful,  joyful— 
On  Canaan's  happy  shore  ; 
To  meet  to  part  no  more  ; 
And  join  the  everlasting  song, 
With  those  who've  gone  before." 

Then  there  was  story-telling  —  not  the 
senseless  rhymes  of  u  Mother  Goose "  and 
other  kindred  inanities, — but  beautiful  his- 
tories out  of  the  rich  treasures  of  the  word 
of  God.  And  here  Lottie  was  generally  the 
speaker ;  but  her  bright,  sparkling  eyes 
turned  often  to  Eobert  to  help  her,  if  she 
failed  in  her  narrations.  There  was  no  lack 
of  interest  in  the  little  group  that  surround- 
ed her,  as  she  told  the  "exquisite  story  of  Jo- 
seph and  his  brethren,  in  all  the  simple  pa- 
thos of  the  inspired  penman — of  Moses  as  a 
babe,  and  the  leader  of  Israel — of  little 
Samuel  and  the  chosen  David — and  then  of 
Him,  who  was  our  Prophet,  Priest,  and 
King  all  in  one.  Often,  too,  she  brought 
her  precious  "  Pilgrim  "  to  add  to  the  stock 
of  pleasant  instruction  ;  and  thus  many  de- 
lightful hours  were  passed — hours  long  to  be 


78  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

remembered,  and  whose  bearing  was  upon 
eternity. 

And  when  at  last  the  beautiful  spring 
came,  to  wake  into  gladness  the  brown,  hard 
earth,  and  "  the  time  of  the  singing  of  birds 
had  come,"  there  were  pleasant  walks  to  be 
taken  in  the  deep,  silent  woods;  little  feet 
running  merrily  hither  and  thither,  and  lov- 
ing strife  made  as  to  who  should  gather  the 
first  blue  violet,  or  the  delicately  veined 
spring  beauty,  as  they  crept  up  through  the 
dry,  rustling  leaves.  And,  seated  at  the  foot 
of  some  moss-grown  tree,  Mr.  Hallam  would 
take  these  gems  of  nature's  coronet  for 
texts,  and  discourse  eloquently  to  his  little 
scholars  of  the  goodness  and  protecting  care 
of  Him  who  guides  and  guards  all. 

He  showed  them  how  this  work  of  divine 
Providence  is  exerted  even  in  the  least  and 
the  lowliest — He,  whose  almighty  hand  con- 
trols the  stars  in  their  wondrous  course, 
stooping  to  hide  the  germ  of  the  little  flower 
in  the  earth,  nourishing  it  in  its  dark  bosom, 
and  causing  it  to  spring  forth  at  last,  dyed 


THE  DRIVEK  BOY.  79 

in  colours  that  no  earthly  pencil  can  imitate. 
And  secure  in  their  hard  cradles  lined  with 
softest  down,  rocks  rtie  tender  leaf-buds 
through  all  the  wintry  storms  and  surging 
winds,  till  they  burst  forth  into  the  green 
and  beautiful  foliage  of  summer. 

And  while  the  little  ones  would  listen  arid 
admire,  and  then  turn  carelessly  away,  Rob- 
ert and  his  teacher  continued  still  further  to 
explore  the  wondrous  book  of  nature,  which, 
once  rightly  understood,  may  create  a  new 
world  out  of  solitude,  and  cause  the  dweller 
in  the  wilderness  to  be  "never  less  alone 
than  when  alone."  Mr.  Hallam  was  one  of 
those  who  can  find 

"  Tongues  in  the  trees,  books  in  the  running  brooks, 
Sermons  in  stones,  and  good  in  everything," 

and  thus  did  he  teach  his  little  scholar  to 
read  the  open  page  of  creation.  The  count- 
less leaves  of  the  forest  reminded  them  of  the 
infinite  mercies  of  God,  renewed  with  every 
rolling  year — the  mountains  that  bounded 
their  view,  of  the  guardian  care  of  Him  who 


80  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

neither  slumbers  nor  sleeps.  Did  they  sit 
under  the  shelter  of  a  gray  rock  ?  Their 
thoughts  were  gratefully  led  to  Him  who  is 
"the  shadow  of  a  great  rock  in  a  weary 
land  "-— "  the  Eock  of  Ages  cleft  for  me  !" 
And  the  sound  and  sight  of  rushing  waters 
imaged  the  precious  fountain  opened  for  sin 
and  uncleanness — its  freeness  and  fulness — 
or  the  river  of  life,  which  flows  in  the  para- 
dise of  God.  ' 

These  were  happy  times  to  little  Eobert ; 
but  like  other  happy  times  they  came  to  an 
end.  Mr.  Hallam  was  going  away.  With 
returning  health  and  energy,  schemes  of 
future  usefulness  were  renewed ;  and  having 
written  a  statement  of  his  plans  and  wishes 
to  some  friends  in  his  former  home,  he  had 
received  a  favourable  answer,  and  began 
soon  to  make  preparations  for  a  return. 

Robert  was  sorry  to  part  with  his  kind 
teacher,  but  he  was  gratified  when  Mr. 
Hallam  gave  him  at  parting  his  own  little 
Bible.  On  one  of  its  blank  pages  was  writ- 
ten that  comforting  text,  which  Robert  had 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  81 

pointed  out  to  him  on  that  eventful  day  when 
they  made  such  an  intimate  acquaintance. 
Mr.  Hallam  told  Robert  that  he  must  remem- 
ber it  too,  if  be  should  ever  be  in  trouble  or 
friendless ;  and  he  bade  him,  should  such  be 
the  case,  to  lose  no  time  in  applying  to  him 
for  assistance. 


82  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 


CHAPTER  IV. 

FARM   WORK,   AND    A   SAD   END    TO   IT. 

THIS  parting  with  Mr.  Hallam  was  not 
the  only  trial  Robert  had  to  meet  with  that 
spring.  The  "pleasant  things  brought  forth 
by  the  sun"  called  also  for  renewed  diligence 
and  unwearied  labour  in  all  the  departments 
of  the  farm,  both  within  doors  and  without. 
The  mellowed  earth  was  ready  to  be  stirred 
up — the  fence  enclosures  repaired — hedges 
pruned — and  the  garden  patch  cleared  and 
set  with  useful  vegetables. 

These  employments  were  very  delightful 
to  Robert.  He  loved  to  be  out  in  the  free, 
open  air;  the  merry  whistle  of  the  plough- 
man sounded  cheerfully  in  his  ears,  as  he 
trod  patiently  after  his  footsteps  in  the  long 
straight  furrows,  and  removed  the  hard  clods 
and  rocks  that  would  have  hindered  the 
springing  of  the  tender  grain.  Often  he 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  83 

said  to  himself, 'or  repeated  to  Martin,  some 
of  the  sweet  lessons  that  he  had  learned  from 
Mr.  Hallam,  so  that  the  land  was  literally 
"sown  in  righteousness;"  and  Martin,  who 
liked  little  Robert  well,  cheerfully  taught 
him  what  he  himself  knew  of  farm  work,  and 
especially  to  take  care  of  and  manage  horses, 
which  proved  in  after  life  so  very  useful  to 
Robert.  He  could  soon  vie  with  Lottie  her- 
self in  feats  of  riding ;  and  the  exercise  g^ve 
strength  to  his  growing^frame,  and  made  him, 
though  still  a  very  little,  yet  a  stout  and 
healthy  boy. 

But  it  was  not  the  unwonted  labour  that 
was  a  source  of  trouble  to  Robert.  He  loved 
to  work,  and  knew  it  was  right  to  do  so ; 
but  he  would  have  liked  so  much  if  his  un- 
wearied services  could  have  secured  for  him 
those  smiles  and  kind  words,  which  had  been 
his  best  reward,  when  he  wrought  diligently 
for  his  mother  at  the  little  hill-side  cottage. 
Old  Paul  and  nurse  Katy  were  still  very 
kind  to  him ;  and  Lottie  was  his  unfailing 
friend  ;  but  do  what  he  would  for  mother 
Martha,  he  could  never  please  her. 


84  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

When  he  had  patiently  performed  the  many 
tasks  she  assigned  to  him, — and  it  often 
seemed  to  the  little  tired  boy  that  she  tried 
to  make  work  for  him  instead  of  lightening 
it ; — when  the  wood  was  cleft,  and  nicely 
piled  within  reach — the  bright  buckets  filled 
with  water — the  unsightly  weeds  rooted  up, 
and  the  garden  paths  swept  and  neatly  rolled 
— the  same  dark  brow  lowered  on  him — the 
same  harsh  voice  found  fault  with  his  utmost 
endeavours  to  please. 

Sometimes  Eobert  thought  it  would  be 
better  for  him  to  try  to  make  his  own  way 
in  the  world ;  especially  as  mother  Martha 
would  sometimes  say  to  her*  husband,  that  it 
was  a  shame  for  them  to  have  a  beggar  boy 
to  maintain,  when  there  were  enough  of  their 
own  kin  who  would  be  glad  of  the  chance. 
He  fancied  too  that  farmer  Brock  looked 
less  cordially  upon  him  after  these  sallies ; 
and  this  troubled  Kobert  more  than  mother 
Martha's  frowns.  By  this  suspicion  Kobert 
wronged  the  good  old  man.  He  still  felt  as 
kindly  as  ever  for  the  orphan  boy ;  but  some 


THE   DRIVEK  BOY.  85 

embarrassing  circumstances  in  his  worldly 
affairs  distressed  and  vexed  him,  and  caused 
him  to  appear  moody  and  absent-minded. 

As  Robert  was  not  acquainted  with  the 
real  cause  of  it,  farmer  Brock's  altered  de- 
meanour caused  him  many  sad  thoughts ; 
and  almost  made  him  resolve  that  he  would 
go  at  once,  and  relieve  him  from  the  burden 
of  his  maintenance. 

He  opened  his  mind  to  Martin  on  the 
subject ;  but  he  only  bade  him,  roughly  but 
good  humouredly,  "  not  be  a  fool,  and  quarrel 
with  his  bread  and  butter,  because  it  was 
not  spread  to  his  liking  ;"  by  which  homely 
proverb  he  wished  the  little  boy  to  under- 
stand, that  he  should  be  thankful  for  the 
blessings  of  his  lot,  even  if  some  things  did 
not  go  quite  smoothly. 

So  he  determined  on  the  first  good  chance 
to  consult  Lottie  ;  and  as  the  summer  had  by 
this  time  worn  on,  and  the  bending  grain 
began  to  yield  to  the  hand  of  the  reaper,  the 
children  were  often  required  to  go  to  the 
distant  lots  with  the  labourers'  meals  ;  so  that 
an  opportunity  soon  presented  itself. 


86  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

"  Come,  hurry  now,"  said  mother  Martha, 
one  pleasant  afternoon,  as  she  packed  up  a 
large  basket ;  "  the  men  are  all  out  in  the 
great  hill  field,  and  too  far  off  to  come  in  to 
supper.  You  an'd  Robert,  Lottie,  are  to 
carry  it  to  them  ;  and  be  smart  too  ;  for  I 
want  you,  while  they  are  eating,  to  pick  me 
some  berries  to  make  jam  of.  And  mind 
they  don't  come  home  full  of  sticks  and 
dirt,  like  the  last  you  brought  me  ;  or  you'll 
catch  something  more  than  a  scolding,  I  pro- 
mise you." 

"  Robbie's  wasn't,"  said  the  little  girl,  as 
she  reluctantly  hooked  her  arm  in  the  basket 
handle.  .  "I  know  you  thought  yourself, 
mother,  that  his  berries  looked  sweet  and 
fresh,  with  the  cool  green  leaves  laid  so 
nicely  over  them.  But  you  never  will  praise 
Robbie,  let  him  do  what  he  will  to  please 
you.  If  I  were  him,  I  would  do  every  thing 
wrong  just  on  purpose." 

"  0  no,  you  wouldn't,  Lottie,"  whispered 
Robert  softly,  as  he  drew  his  little,  com- 
panion away  ;  for  he  saw  by  mother  Martha's 


THE   DRIVER   EOT.  87 

looks  that  she  was  about  to  visit  Lottie's 
impertinence  with  an  angry  blow. 

"  0  no,  you  wouldn't,  Lottie,"  he  repeated, 
as  they  turned  into  the  green  lane  which  led 
to  the  reaping  field ;  "  or  if  you  did,  you 
wouldn't  be  good  like  our  Saviour.  Don't 
you  remember  what  the  Bible  says?  'For 
what  glory  is  it,  if,  when  ye  be  buffeted  for 
your  faults,  ye  shall  take  it  patiently  ?  but  if 
when  ye  do  well,  and  suffer  for  it,  ye  take  it 
patiently,  this  is  acceptable  with  God.'  " 

"  I  am  afraid  I  don't  remember  as  much 
as  I  ought,  Bobbie.  But  when  mother 
Martha  looks  so  cross,  and  makes  believe  to 
blame  you  for  all  the  bad  things  I  do,  I 
can't  help  flaring  up,  and  saying  things  to 
vex  her.  I  don't  know  how  you  can  be  so 
patient,  Robbie ;  I'm  sure  you  must  hate 
her." 

"  No,  I  don't,  Lottie.  I  would  be  afraid 
to  be  so  bad  as  that.  The  Bible  says  :  '  Do 
good  to  them  that  hate  you,  and  pray  for 
them  which  despitefully'use  you,  and  perse- 
cute you.' " 


88  LITTLE   BOB   TEUE, 

"  And  do  you  pray  for  mother  Martha, 
Robbie  ?  I  am  sure  she  is  spiteful  enough." 

"  It  doesn't  mean  quite  that,  Lottie ;  but  I 
do  pray  for  her  and  for  all  of  you ;  and 
I  hope  when  I  go  away  you  will  do  so  too, 
and  try  to  please  her.  I  know  it  will  make 
you  feel  happier,  for  it  does  me." 

"  Going  away  1"  Lottie  almost  dropped 
her  hold  of  the  basket  in  the  sudden  surprise. 
"  Why,  what  has  got  in  you,  Bobbie,  to 
talk  so  ?  Ain't  you  my  father's  little  boy  ? 
and  didn't  your  mother  give  you  to  him  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  know,"  said  Eobert,  sorrowfully  ; 
"but  mother  Martha  wants  me  away.  I 
heard  her  say  so;  and,  Lottie,  your  father 
hardly  speaks  to  me,  and  seems  all  the  time 
as  if  he  was  in  trouble.  Perhaps  he  is  sorry 
that  he  took  me,  and  wants  to  get  rid  of  me 
now." 

"I  don't  believe  a  word  of  it,"  said  Lottie 
with  her  usual  warmth;  "I  don't  mean  that 
I  don't  believe  you,  Bobbie ;  but  I  think 
you  are  mistaken.  Father  is  the  dearest, 
kindest  creature  that  ever  breathed ;  and  I 


THE   DRIVER   BOY.  89 

know  he  likes  you,  Bobbie,  for  he  often 
says  so.  But  I  do  think  father  is  in  some 
trouble.  There  has  been  a  jnan  at  our  house 
ever  so  often,  and  I  don't  like  his  looks  a 
bit ;  and  whenever  he  comes,  father  looks 
just  as  you  said — so  sorry.  And  I  heard 
Martin  saying  last  night  when  he  was  help- 
ing with  the  milking,  that  if  something 
happened — I  could  riot  make  out  what — the 
farm  and  everything  would  have  to  go ;  and 
I  was  too  frightened  to  ask  why,  but  there  is 
something  the  matter,  I  know." 

"  I  mean  to  ask  him,"  resumed  the  child 
with  energy.;  and  in  her  impatience  she 
drew  Robert  on,  until  they  turned  the  slope 
of  a  hill,  which,  rising  to  a  considerable 
height  in  one  corner  of  the  field,  gave  its 
name  to  that  particular  vicinity. 

It  was  covered  to  the  top  with  low  bram- 
ble bushes,  with  their  dark  ripe  fruit  hanging 
in  clusters ;  destined  to  be  smothered  in  rich 
cream,  or  kept  for  future  use  in  the  hidden 
recesses  of  mother  Martha's  preserve  closet. 
But  Lottie's  eyes  were  not  directed  that  way. 
8* 


90  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

Stretching  from  the  foot  of  the  hill  as  far  as 
the  eye  could  reach,  lay  the  smooth,  even 
windrows  of  golden  grain  ;  and  at  the  end 
stood  upright  sheaves  in  symmetrical  heaps, 
ready  to  load  the  huge  wagon,  whose  patient 
oxen  paused  beneath  the  shade  of  a  magnifi- 
cent old  tree,  to  chew  their  cud  and  await 
the  pleasure  of  their  owners.  At  the  same 
place,  the  labourers  had  with  one  accord 
suspended  their  task ;  and,  wiping  their  heated 
brows,  gathered  around  the  clear,  cool  spring, 
that  bubbled  up  from  its  roots. 

As  they  reclined  in  careless  attitudes  on 
the  little  patch  of  green  sward  that  encircled 
the  old  tree,  Lottie,  who  had  a  quick  eye 
for  effect  in  the  grouping  of  a  picture, 
determined  to  spread  the  rural  meal  there. 
Quickly  was  the  white  cloth  laid  over  the 
fragrant  clover  blossoms ;  and,  as  there  had 
been  no  room  to  carry  dishes,  she  directed 
Robert  to  break  off  some  of  the  largest  and 
broadest  of  the  oak  leaves,  and  joining  them 
artistically  together,  placed  on  them  heaping 
slices  of  loaf  cake  and  butter,  ham  and 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  91 

cheese,   with   all   the  other  materials  of  a 
plentiful  meal. 

Lottie  had  been  too  much  engrossed  with 
her  favourite  employment — for  what  little 
girl  has  not  delighted  at  one  time  or  another 
to  play  the  housekeeper? — to  have  very 
attentively  observed  the  sunburnt  counte- 
nances that  surrounded  her ;  but  when  her 
task  was  over,  she  looked  hurriedly  around — 

"  Where  is  father  ?" 

"  He  had  been  sent  for  to  go  to  the  house," 
Martin  answered.  "  Some  one  had  come  on 
piessing  business,  and  would  not  wait ;  and 
as  he  had  crossed  lots  while  they  kept  the 
road,  this  was  the  reason  they  had  not  met 
him." 

Lottie  saw  the  significant  glances  that 
went  round  the  circle  of  labourers. 

"  That  man  again !"  she  whispered  to 
Robert ;  and  the  two  children  went  and  sat 
down  sorrowfully  at  a  little  distance,  under 
a  shock  of  golden  wheat. 

But  Lottie  was  not  famous  for  continuing 
long  in  the  same  mood ;  so  she  presently 


92  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

started  up  again,  and  twisting  some  stray 
wheat  ears  through  her  fair  hair,  gathered 
up  the  corner  of  her  blue  apron,  and  stooped 
in  the  attitude  of  gleaning. 

"  Kobbie,"  she  called  out,  "  do  I  look  like 
Euth  ?" 

"  Kuth  who  ?" 

"  Why,  Kuth  in  the  Bible  to  be  sure — who 
else?  You  know  she  went  and  gleaned  in 
the  field  of  Boaz  ;  and  he  told  his  young  men 
to  let  fall  some  handfulls  on  purpose  for  her. 
Wasn't  he  kind  ?"  ./ 

"  Yes,  he  was  a  good  master.  How  beau- 
tiful it  must  have  sounded  when  he  said  to 
his  reapers  :  '  The  Lord  be  with  you  ;'  and 
they  answered  him :  '  The  Lord  bless  thee  I' 
We  don't  hear  people  talk  so  now-a-days." 

"  No  indeed ;  and  there  are  no  gleaners 
either.  And  I  don't  think  I  could  carry 
home  a  great  load  of  grain  in  a  veil  like 
Euth  did." 

"  Oh,  they  were  not  veils  like  women  wear 
now — not  thin,  I  mean.  I  have  heard  the 
teacher  say  that  in  eastern  countries  the  up- 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  93 

per  part  of  the  female  dress  was  a  loose  piece 
of  thick  muslin,  that  could  be  gathered  over 
the  head  and  face  when  the  wearer  pleased. 
But  come,  Lottie,"  continued  Kobert,  start- 
ing up,  "  you  forget  the  berries." 

"  0  yes  !  the  tiresome  berries  1  I  wish 
mother  Martha  would  try  it  herself  once.  I 
wonder  if  she  would  like  to  drag  a  great 
heavy  basket  through  the  hot  sun,  and  therf 
get  her  fingers  pricked,  and  her  clothes  torn 
in  the  bramble  bushes." 

"  Well,"  said  Eobert,  good-humouredly, 
"you  sit  here,  Lottie,  while  I  pick  the  ber- 
ries ;  and  nobody  will  know  anything  about 
it." 

"  No  indeed,  I  won't  do  that  either.  So 
here  go  all  my  gleanings  to  feed  the  pretty 
little  birds ;  and.  if  we  be  smart,  we  will  have 
a  good  ride  home  on  the  top  of  the  wagon." 

Thanks  to  Robert's  diligence,  the  basket 
was  filled  in  good  season  ;  and  they  had  a 
charming  ride  home  on  the  well-heaped  pile 
of  sheaves.  As  they  curved  towards  the  barn, 
one  of  the  men  lifted  Lottie  from  her  high 


94  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

perch,  and  leaving  Kobert  to  tug  along  the 
basket,  she  bounded  merrily  on  to  the  house. 

But  an  unexpected  sight  arrested  her  foot- 
steps. The  stranger,  whose  presence  seemed 
to  cast  such  a  shadow  over  the  household, 
was  just  turning  his  horse's  head  away  from 
the  gate.  But  as  he  went,  his  dark  looks 
and  threatening  words  made  Lottie  shrink 
with  terror ;  and  her  fear  increased,  when 
she  saw  her  father  standing  with  his  head 
uncovered  to  the  evening  breeze,  making 
mute  gestures  of  supplication  with  his 
joined  hands,  and  turning  his  fixed  gaze 
upward,  as  if  he  felt  all  earthly  help  to  be 
in  vain.  A  moment  she  stood  in  doubt 
whether  to  advance  or  retreat ;  -but  suddenly 
she  started  forward  with  a  piercing  cry,  for 
her  father  had  fallen  heavily  backward  on 
the  stone  steps  of  the  dwelling ;  and  when 
those  who  had  gathered  hastily  at  Lottie's 
frightened  summons  took  the  old  man  care- 
fully and  tenderly  up,  he  was  apparently  life- 
less. 

There   was   commotion   and  sorrow  that 


THE   DEIVEB  BOY.  95 

night  at  the  Mill  Creek  farm.  Its  owner 
still  breathed  ;  but  it  was  said  that  he  could 
not  recover.  The  shock  of  his  sudden  fall, 
together  with  the  trouble  of  mind  under 
which  he  had  laboured  for  many  weeks,  had 
terminated  in  congestion  of  the  brain ;  and 
after  some  days  of  distress  and  suspense,  the 
deep  sleep  of  disease  changed  into  the  still 
deeper  slumbers  of  the  grave. 

When  the  sad  event  was  over,  it  was  dis- 
covered, as  had  been  already  strongly  sus- 
pected, that  Mill  Creek  farm  must  change 
owners.  Always  innocent  and  upright  in 
his  own  dealings,  the  good  old  farmer  had  not 
been  sufficiently  acquainted  with  the  schemes 
of  unworthy  men,  to  prevent  his  falling  a 
prey  to  their  devices.  He  had  been  per- 
suaded to  enter  surety  for  a  casual  acquaint- 
ance to  a  large  amount ;  and,  on  the  failure 
of  the  principal,  his  own  property  was  held 
forfeit.  On  that  eventful  afternoon  when  he 
had  received  his  death  stroke,  all  his  worldly 
goods  had  been  ordered  for  peremptory  sale ; 
and  had  he  lived,  it  would  have  been  to  go 


96  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

forth  from  the  home  that  his  labour  had 
raised,  to  begin  the  world  again  as  penniless 
as  before. 

Very  different  were  the  emotions  with 
which  this  intelligence  was  received  by  the 
different  members  of  the  family.  Lottie  and 
Eobert  were  too  much  overwhelmed  with 
grief  for  the  loss  of  their  kind  father  and 
friend,  to  think  much  of  a  future ;  but  mother 
Martha  loudly  complained  of  the  injustice 
to  her  own  particular  self,  and  dared  to  cast 
some  bitter  reproaches  on  the  good  old  man, 
who,  while  he  lived,  had  been  so  careful  not 
to  provoke  her  to  wrath. 

But  it  was  necessary  that  some  one  should 
think  and  act  too  ;  and  in  a  few  weeks  it  was 
arranged,  if  not  to  the  satisfaction  of  all,  yet 
in  such  a  manner  as  seemed  for  the  best. 
Lottie  had  been  claimed  by  a  brother  of  her 
father,  whose  home  was  in  the  interior  of 
Illinois ;  and  who  made  a  journey  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  conveying  her  thither.  Her 
step-mother  expected  to  find  shelter  with  her 
own  relations  j  and  took  her  leave  some  days 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  97 

before  the  rest,  with  all  the  goods  and  chat- 
tels which  she  claimed  as  her  peculiar  prop- 
erty. She  took  little  notice  of  Lottie  when 
she  went  away,  and  none  at  all  of  Eobert ; 
not  even  inquiring  what  he  purposed  do- 
ing with  himself. 

Others  were  more  thoughtful,  however. 
Lottie  begged  hard  that  he  should  go  with  her, 
and  share  her  western  home ;  but  Eobert  had 
no  idea  of  being  looked  on  as  an  intruder 
again,  and  preferred  to  be  independent.  Old 
Paul  and  Katy,  who  had  decided  to  reside  at 
the  old  hill-side  cottage  where  Eobert  and 
his  mother  had  lived,  offered  him  a  home 
with  them,  at  least  for  the  winter,  if  he  would 
stay  no  longer.  But  Eobert  remembered 
what  Mr.  Hallam  had  said  he  must  do  if  he 
should  ever  need  a  friend  ;  and  he  determined 
that  in  some  way  or  other  he  would  find  him 
out.  He  agreed,  however,  that  when  he  had 
taken  leave  of  poor  little  Lottie,  he  would 
stay  with  the  good  old  couple  a  few  days, 
before  he  set  out  to  seek  a  living  for  himself. 

The  little   cottage  had  been    untenanted 


98  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

ever  since  his  mother's  death.  Its  situation 
was  too  lonely  to  tempt  many  to  inhabit  it ; 
and  had  it  not  been  for  Robert's  stolen  visits 
to  the  much  loved  spot,  it  would  speedily  have 
assumed  a  much  wilder  appearance.  But 
his  veneration  for  her  who  had  loved  to  tend 
the  little  garden,  had  made  it  a  pleasant  task 
to  repair  thither,  and  keep  it  free  from  un- 
sightly weeds  and  litter.  It  was  his  hand 
that  restrained  the  wild  climbing  of  the  vine, 
which  shaded  her  favourite  window  ;  that 
clipped  close  the  grass,  which  threatened  to 
encroach  on  the  path  where  her  step  had  so 
often  fallen ;  and  enclosed  with  turf  and 
stones  the  fountain,  that  sprung  up  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill. 

There  was  another  favourite  spot  too  that 
Robert  had  often  visited,  and  towards  which 
he  bent  his  steps  again  on  the  last  evening 
of  his  stay.  It  was  the  sacred  place  of  the 
dead ;  that  cherished  spot  so  touchingly  called 
by  the  Germans  "  God's  acre;"  where  the  seed 
of  the  righteous,  sown  in  weakness  and  weep- 
ing, awaits  the  glorious  morning  of  the  re- 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  99 

surrection,  to  be  brought  forth  incorruptible, 
immortal. 

Many  graves  were  there,  for  the  enclosure 
was  an  ancient  one ;  and  some  gray  stones, 
almost  embedded  in  the  earth,  bore  on  their 
moss-grown  surface  the  nearly  obliterated 
dates  and  records  of  long  past  years.  Others 
again  were  nameless ; — yet  not  the  less  dear 
to  the  hearts  that  ever  remembered.  Among 
these,  with  the  fresh  mould  yet  unsodded, 
rested  Robert's  friend,  the.  good  old  man  who 
had  lately  been  so  emphatically  the  "  house- 
band"  of  the  home  circle,  that  with  the  break- 
ing of  that  bond  had  scattered. 

Near  by  was  the  grave  of  his  mother,  un- 
noticed and  unknown.  Robert  knelt  down 
and  pressed  his  cheek  to  the  cold  sod,  that 
covered  the  precious  remains  that  had  been 
so  dear  to  him.  No  stone  told  who  rested 
there ;  but,  as  if  the  pearly  clover  blossoms 
had  been  the  letters  of  an  unwritten  language, 
their  sweet  breath  whispered:  "Asleep  in 
Tesus !" — "  Them  will  Christ  bring  with  him." 


100  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 


CHAPTER   V. 

ROBERT     SETS     OUT     TO     MAKE     HIS     OWN     WAT     IN     THB 
WORLD. — A   FRIEND   IN    NEED. — THE   SICK    BOY. 

IT  was  a  bright,  pleasant  morning  in  Sep- 
tember, when  Kobert  prepared  to  leave  the 
only  place  which  he  could  call  "  home,"  and 
the  friends  who  had  been  so  kind  to  him. 
It  was  not  a  little  of  a  trial  for  him,  thus  to 
break  all  the  ties  that  stood  to  him  in  the 
place  of  kindred,  and  begin  for  himself  the 
great  journey  of  life. 

But,  beneath  the  mild  deportment  of  lit- 
tle Bob  True,  there  were  hidden  much  ener- 
gy and  decision  ; — materials  which  go  a 
great  way  to  make  up  a  self-reliant  charac- 
ter. Besides,  he  trusted  in  God,  and  believed 
himself  to  be  in  covenant  relationship  to 
Him  who  has  said — "  I  will  be  a  father  to 
thee,  and  to  thy  seed  after  thee."  Ever-  since 
his  mother's  death,  he  had  committed  his 


THE   DRIVER   BOY.  101 

ways  unto  the  Lord ;  and  he  had  no  doubt 
that  he  was  able  to  point  out  the  right  path 
to  him,  and  keep  him  when  he  had  entered 
it.  And  having  thus,  as  it  were,  taken  God 
to  be  his  helper,  he  felt  less  uneasy  about 
the  little  difficulties  and  troubles  that  should 
await  him." 

u  Where  shall  you  go  ?"  asked  nurse  Katy, 
as  she  busied  herself  in  folding  and  refolding 
every  article  of  clothing  in  Robert's  bundle, 
so  that  each  might  take  up  as  little  space  as 
possible. 

Old  Paul  said  nothing,  but  he  looked  up 
from  his  corner — for  he  had  found  a  corner 
somewhere,  where  he  was  as  busy  as  ever 
with  his  odds  and  ends — and  his  quick  little 
eyes,  beneath  the  great  round  glasses,  said  as 
plainly  as  words : 

"  Yes,  where  shall  you  go  ?" 

"  Why,  I  was  thinking  of  travelling  on 
as  many  miles  as  I  could  walk  a  day,  to- 
wards the  big  river,  nurse  Katy.  And  if  I 
can  get  any  work,  odd  times  at  farm-places, 
it  will  help  me  finely ;  for  I  shall  have  a 


102  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

long  road  to  travel,  before  I  reach  the  town 
where  Mr.  Hallam  told  ine  he  had  his 
home." 

"  And  how  do  you  expect  to  live  along  ?" 

•  "  I  have  a  little  money,  and  when  that  is 

gone,  I  can  work.     I   am   sure  I   am    old 

enough  and  strong  enough  for  that,  nurse 

Katy." 

"  Let  me  see  your  money." 

Kobert  took  out  his  little  store.  It  con- 
sisted of  the  small  coins  which  had  been 
given  to  him  at  various  times  by  his  friends, 
and  which  he  had  saved  less  for  the  love  of 
hoarding,  than  because  he  had  no  temptation 
to  spend  them.  Some  articles  had  been  left 
to  him  at  his  mother's  death,  but  no  one  had 
taken  the  trouble  to  save  them  from  the  gen- 
eral wreck,  when  the  farm  property  was 
sold ;  so  that,  besides  his  clothing,  and  a  few 
books  of  his  father's,  which  Robert  valued 
too  much  to  part  with,  he  was  entirely  des- 
titute of  earthly  possessions. 

Nurse  Katy's  eyes  moistened  as  she  looked 
on  the  little  heap  before  her.  But  she  was 


THE   DKIVEK  BOY.  103 

not  content  with  sympathizing  only,  troing 
hastily  to  a  large  chest,  that  formed  no  in- 
considerable portion  of  her  household  fur- 
niture, she  drew  forth  the  strong,  leathern 
purse,  which,  with  the  characteristic  thrift 
of  her  race,  contained  something  for  hard 
times,  and  placed  two  bright  dollars  in  Eob- 
ert's  hand. 

"  There — that  will  save  you  from  want  a 
little  while.  And  keep  up  your  brave  heart, 
and  trust  in  God  always,  and  no  danger  but 
you  will  come  out  right." 

Old  Paul  took  his  leave  in  a  way  peculiar 
to  himself.  Keeping  fast  hold  of  Robert 
with  one  trembling  hand,  he  opened  his  Bi- 
ble with  the  other,  and  read  a  verse  of  the 
thirty-seventh  Psalm  :  "  I  have  been  young, 
and  now  am  old;  yet  have  I  not  seen 
the  righteous  forsaken,  nor  his  seed  begging 
bread." 

"  Forsaken," — added  Paul ;  and  the  simple 
comment  supplied  the  meaning,  which  makes 
the  beautiful  text  applicable  to  the  destitute 
and  down-trodden  of  earth. 


104  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

Somewhere  between  the  Blue  or  Kittatiny 
mountains  and  the  great  coal  regions  of 
Pennsylvania,  lay  the  route  of  our  young 
traveller.  He  was  not  much  acquainted 
with  its  way-marks,  further  than  having  a 
pretty  accurate  knowledge  of  their  geogra- 
phical limits ;  but  he  knew  that  his  destina- 
tion must  be  the  "  big  river,"  as  he  called  the 
busy  Schuylkill,  to  distinguish  it  from  its 
tributary  streams  or  creeks. 

For  some  miles,  his  journey  was  a  plea- 
sant one.  The  fresh,  pure  air — the  roaming 
through  wild  skirts  of  forest  land,  with  their 
delicious  fragrance  of  leaf  and  flower — the 
sound  of  falling  waters,  and  the  songs  of 
birds, — all  had  peculiar  charms  for  one,  who 
had  been  brought  up  to  love  their  natural 
music  and  beauty.  Besides,  lie  had  an  ob- 
ject in  view,  a  purpose  to  act  out;  and  that 
gave  a  buoyancy  to  his  step,  and  made  all 
things  look  pleasant. 

Once  only  he  faltered  and  looked  back. 
He  had  reached  a  point,  where  he  could  no 
longer  gaze  around  him,  and  say,  "  This  is 


THE   DKIVER  BOY.  105 

home."  A  vast  ledge  of  gray  rocks,  that, 
piled  in  fantastic  shapes,  seemed  to  have 
been  the  upheaving  of  some  great  convul- 
sion of  nature,  stood  directly  in  his  way. 
Around  its  base  the  road  curved,  which  was 
taking  him  from  all  familiar  scenes  into  a 
land  of  strangers. 

Robert  felt  that^he  must  have  one  look 
more  at  his  beloved  home  ;  and,  accordingly, 
he  began  to  climb  up  the  rugged  face  of  the 
rock,  which  was  steep  enough  to  command 
an  extensive  view.  Its  rough  edges  were 
covered  with  mould  sufficient  to  nourish 
both  grass  and  shrubs,  and  from  the  clefts 
sprung  trees  of  no  inconsiderable  size ;  the 
deep  green  of  wild,  creeping  vines  weaving 
graceful  curtains  over  its  barren  front. 
Once  arrived  at  its  summit,  Kobert  paused 
and  looked  round  him. 

On  one  side  lay  the  valley  where  his  few 
short  years  had  been  passed.  He  could  see 
the  blue  smoke  curling  over  the  hill  side, 
where  his  mother's  cottage  stood.  A  little 
farther  on  was  the  place  of  her  quiet  rest 


106  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

Then,  like  a  silver  thread  winding  through 
the  green  lowlands,  the  mill  stream  with  its 
picturesque  but  noisy  mill;  and  on  its  banks 
the  old  farm-house,  now,  alas,  tenanted  by 
strangers.  He  could  even-  see,  behind  the 
deep  shadow  of  the  woods,  the  ancient  school- 
house,  where  he  had  passed  so  many  pleasant 
hours  with  his  dear  frieq(l  arid  teacher,  Mr. 
Hallam. 

And  as  he  thought  of  him,  Robert  turned 
to  look  on  the  opposite  picture.  Miles  and 
miles  away  stretched  a  vast  range  of  country. 
On  the  south,  his  view  was  bounded  by 
mountains,  whose  tops  were  lost  in  the 
masses  of  clouds  that  hung  around  them. 
On  the  other  side,  the  land  was  broken  into 
irregular  patches  of  hill  and  valley ;  the 
latter  poorly  cultivated,  giving  token  of  the 
mines  of  wealth  that  lay  hidden  beneath 
the  surface.  And  this  was  his  laild  of  pro- 
mise. Could  he  deliberately  advance  a  step 
farther,  without  lifting  his  heart  to  the  God 
of  his  life,  and  saying  with  the  leader  of 
Israel :  "  If  thou  go  not  with  me.  carry  me  not 
up  thither  ?" 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  107 

Once  again,  on  his  journey,  Eobert  soon 
left  home  and  its  associations  in  the  distance. 
Then  he  began  to  realize  the  disagreeable 
necessity  of  applying  to  strangers  in  the  hour 
of  need ;  and,  as  hearts  differ  in  the  multitude 
as  well  as  faces,  he  met  with  much  variety 
in  his  reception  among  them.  The  foresight 
of  nurse  Katy  had  supplied  his  little  wallet 
with  the  means  of  satisfying  the  demands  of 
hunger  for  a  few  days  at  least ;  and  it  was 
pleasant  to  be  able  to  sit  down  by  the  way- 
side fountain,  and  partake  of  her  bounty  and 
God's  gift  together,  with  a  thankful  heart. 
It  was  a  lingering  enjoyment  of  home  bless- 
ings, which  made  him  feel  less  unfriended. 

But  it  was  necessary  at  night  to  seek  a 
.shelter  for  his  little  weary  head ;  and  here 
Robert  was  often  coldly  repulsed.  Some 
chided  him  for  being  a  runaway,  and  advised 
him  to  return  to  his  parents  or  employers ; 
others  suggested  that  he  might  possibly  be- 
long to  a  gang  of  thieves,  and  it  would  be 
unsafe  to  harbour  him ;  while  a  few,  generous 
and  kind  hearted,  were  not  forgetful  to 


108  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

entertain  strangers ;  and  thereby  received 
unawares,  if  not  an  angel,  yet  one  of  Christ's 
blessed  little  ones. 

These  were,  however,  but  the  few ;  the  many 
were  suspicious  and  cautious,  besides  being 
in  most  cases  unwilling  to  afford  either  food 
or  lodging  without  a  recompense ;  so  that  in 
a  short  time  Eobert  found  his  little  store 
becoming  so  far  diminished,  that  he  began 
seriously  to  think  of  his  other  alternative- 
work. 

To  this  he  was  brought  by  various  cir- 
cumstances. His  scant  assortment  of  wear- 
ing apparel,  originally  contrived  of  half- worn 
garments,  had  suffered  much  by  contact  with 
bush  and  bramble ;  and  the  rough  ways  had 
made  sad  work  with  his  only  pair  of  shoes. 
He  must  certainly  try  to  obtain  the  means 
for  securing  a  more  decent  suit,  or  he  should 
be  unfit  to  claim  the  kind  notice  of  the  friend 
of  whom  he  was  in  search. 

So  Robert  resolved  on  one  bright  moon- 
light night,  when  he  had  crept  to  his  usual 
bed  among  the  fragrant  hay  in  a  farmer's 


THE   DRIVER    BOY.  109 

barn,  that  he  would  apply  to  the  different 
houses  no  longer  for  food  and  shelter  only, 
but  exchange  his  strength  and  ability  to 
labour  for  the  means  of  living.  He  did  not 
forget  to  ask  God's  blessing  on  this  under- 
taking also ;  and  then,  strengthened  and 
cheered  by  a  good  resolution,  he  fell  asleep, 
with  the  soft  rays  of  the  moon  shining 
through  the  crevices  of  the  great  barn,  and 
turning  into  gold  the  masses  of  grain 
sheaves  that  were  heaped  high  up  all  around 
him. 

But  it  was  easier  to  seek  than  to  find  the 
wished-for  place.  So  Robert  thought,  when 
on  the  next  morning  he  made  his  vrants 
known  at  the  farm-house,  on  whose  premises 
he  had  sought  shelter  for  the  night.  The 
refusal  was  so  harshly  given,  and  the  wish 
to  get  rid  of  him  so  evident,  that  the  little 
boy  could  only  turn  sadly  away  ;  and  with- 
out other  refreshment  than  a  cool  nice  wash 
at  the  yard  pump — which,  as  it  cost  nothing, 
was  free  to  all — he  resumed  his  journey  with 
sore  and  bleeding  feet,  and  limbs  that  were 

yet  weary  and  faint. 
10 


110  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

The  road  that  day  led  him  over  a  wilder 
and  more  mountainous  country  than  any  he 
had  yet  travelled.  One  upland  swelled 
above  another;  and,  although  they  were 
beautiful  with  their  rich  garments  of  "living 
green,"  yet  their  solitude  was  almost  un- 
broken, and  for  miles  undisturbed  by  sight 
or  sound  of  human  locality.  It  was  past 
noon  when  Eobert  discovered  before  him  the 
welcome  tokens  of  a  farmer's  dwelling.  It 
was  right  under  the  shelter  of  a  green  hill ; 
and  its  curl  of  blue  smoke  rose  lazily  upward 
almost  to  his  very  feet.  As  he  curved  round 
the  slope  he  came  directly  in  front  of  the 
houpe,  and  had  time  to  take  in  view  all  the 
details  of  its  appearance. 

The  main  building  was  of  log,  with  a 
raised  gable  at  the  ends,  from  which  the  roof 
gradually  drooped  until,  at  the  sides,  there  was 
an  elevation  of  but  one  story.  Several  out- 
houses and  supplementary  sheds,  that  seemed 
to  be  the  after-thoughts  of  various  owners, 
had  clusterei  around  the  central  one,-  and  at 
some  distance  were  large  stacks  of  hay  and 


THE  "DKIVEB  BOY.  Ill 

grain,  protected  from  the  weather  by  cover- 
ings of  thatch,  supported  on  rude  posts. 
There  appeared  to  have  been  but  little  pains 
taken  to  ornament  the  place,  for  it  was  open 
to  the  road,  and  unadorned  by  trees,  except 
on  one  side,  where  a  fine  maple  stretched  its 
protecting  branches.  This  was,  evidently, 
the  working  place  ;  for  beside  an  open  door 
stood  a  barrel  and  a  churn  ;  and  there,  also, 
a  woman  was  actively  employed  in  filling 
a  clay  oven  with  pies  and  bread,  which  she 
had  been  preparing  on  a  board,  laid  trans- 
versely on  two  upright  casks. 

Robert  wished  very  much  to  see  the  face 
of  this  person,  before  venturing  any  nearer; 
for  he  had  met  with  so  many  repulses  in  his 
travels,  that  he  felt  quite  disheartened.  But 
there  was  clearly  nothing  to  be  made  out  of 
the  back  of  the  slouched  calico  sun-bonnet, 
that  was  turned  towards  him,  and  her  gown 
and  check  apron  had  no  character  in  them, 
except  in  revealing  a  certain  tidiness  and 
fitness,  scarcely  to  be  expected  in  her  occu- 
pation. 


112  LITTLE   BOB   VRUE, 

So  he  waited  until  the  last  dish  had  been 
placed  in  safety,  the  oven -'door  arranged  by 
her  practised  hands,  and  those  hands  duly 
washed,  and  the  next  minute  as  busily  em- 
ployed as  ever  in  cleansing  and  preparing 
her  board  again,  to  receive  the  good  things 
that  were  to  be  drawn  out,  well  browned 
and  tempting  to  the  appetite,  from  those  oven 
depths. 

But  when  all  this  was  done,  and  she  turned 
at  last,  a  motherly,  pleasant  countenance  met 
the  gaze  of  the  little  trembling  boy,  who, 
with  his  old  straw  hat  crushed  tightly  in 
both  hands,  stood  close  beside  her.  She 
was  a  little  startled  by  Kobert's  sudden  ap- 
pearance, and  her  face  was  sun-burnt  and 
worn,  both  with*  time  and  care ;  but  it  looked 
kind  and  cheery,  and  won  Kobert's  heart  at 
once. 

In  a  very  short  time  he  was  comfortably 
seated  on  a  little  bench,  under  the  shade  of 
the  tree ;  and  the  good  woman  managed,  by 
many  questions,  to  draw  from  him  his  simple 
story. 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  113 

"  And  so  you  have  been  travelling  ever  so 
many  miles,  all  by  yourself.  Well,  you  are 
a  brave  little  lad,  and  sure  to  make  out  well, 
I  tell  you!  But  don't  your  feet  hurt  you 
some  ?  and  ain't  you  hungry  ? 

"  Yes,  ma'am,  my  feet  pain  me  very  much, 
indeed.  My  shoes  are  all  torn  to  pieces,  and 
I  have  no  money  to  get  any  more.  But  I 
am  looking  for  a  place  where  I  can  work 
awhile,  and  earn  money.  Don't  you  think 
you  could  give  me  some  work  here  ?" 

"  Why,"  said  the  woman,  with  rather  a 
dubious  look,  "  we  have  e'en-a'most  enough 
boys." 

"  Have  you  ?"  said  Robert,  with  a  sinking 
heart. 

"  Yes  indeed,  I  guess  so.  Let  me  see — " 
and  laying  down  her  cloth,  she  began  to 
count  on  her  fingers.  "  There's  Sam,  and 
Josiah,  and  Timothy.  Then  there's  David 
and  Jonathan, — them's  the  two  twins — and 
Andy,  and  little  Jimmy.  Seven  of  them  ;  all 
big  enough  to  work,  and  able  to  eat  their 
allowance,  but  poor  Jimmy ;  and  he,  I'm 

afraid,  will  never  be  about  anymore." 
10* 


114  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

"  Has  he  been  sick  long  ?"  asked  Bobert, 
sympathizingly,  for  he  saw  that  the  poor 
woman  had  to  turn  away  to  hide  the  fast 
starting  tears. 

"  Yes  ;  all  summer.  The  doctor  says  'tis 
the  consumption,  and  he  can  do  nothing  for 
him  ;  and  he's  just  worn  away  to  skin  and 
bone ;  but  so  patient.  While  I'm  busy  here 
he  lies  quiet  like ;  not  sleeping,  but  think- 
ing, as  he  tells  me,  about  happy  places,  and 
beautiful  people  that  are  looking  at  him,  and 
smiling.  I  think  he  pines  away  for  his  lit- 
tle sister  that  died — for  I  had  one  little  girl 
once,  and  she  went,  just  as  poor  Jimmy  is 
going." 

Here  the  mother's  feelings  fairly  overpow- 
ered her,  and  she  wept  for  some  minutes  ;  not 
passionately,  but  .  calmly,  as  from  a  deep 
fountain  of  sorrow.  But  with  that  feeling 
which  finds  relief  in  expression,  she  soon 
began  to  talk  again. 

"They  were  so  good,  them  two.  All  day 
long,  busy  together ;  never  angry  nor  rude. 
And  if  sissy — for  we  always  called  her  sissy, 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  115 

though  her  name  was  Mary — if  sissy  got 
hurt,  Jimmy  would  be  so  vexed,  and  try  all 
he  could  to  please  her.  They  used  to  run 
about  here,  while  I  was  busy  at  my  baking, 
and  never  worry  me  a  bit.  Only  I  must 
always  bake  them  a  little  pie  and  a  cake  a- 
piece;  and,  now  I  have  got  so  used  to  it, 
that  the  little  pies  and  the  cakes  must  be 
made  and  baked,  just  as  if  they  were  here  to 
eat  them." 

Just  then  a  weak,  childish  voice  made 
itself  heard—"  Mother !" 

"  I'm  coming,  Jimmy  ;  mother  is  com- 
ing." 

"Dear  child!"  she  said,  as  she  returned 
after  a  few  minutes'  stay  with  her  sick  boy } 
11  he's  heard  us  talking  here,  and  he  must 
know  all  about  you.  And  he  told  me  to 
give  his  and  sissy's  baking  to  you  to-day, 
for  he  is  sure  you  must  want  it.  And  when 
you  have  done  eating,  I  am  to  take  you  in 
to  see  him." 

So  saying,  the  good  woman  placed  the 
welcome  refreshment  before  the  little  hungry 


116  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

boy ;  and  when  he  had  thankfully  partaken 
of  the  food,  and  drank  a  bowl  of  good  rich 
milk,  she  showed  him  the  way  through  a 
large  kitchen  to  a  sleeping  room  beyond, 
where  little  Jimmy  was  lying. 

The  child  was  indeed  worn  and  wasted  to 
an  extremity ;  but  his  large  dark  eyes  looked 
bright  and  intelligent,  as  tho'se  of  persons 
do  who  have  suffered  long.  He  stretched 
out  his  thin,  transparent  fingers,  and  took 
hold  of  Eobert's  hand.  He  was  pleased 
with  the  sight  and  companionship  of  one  so 
near  his  own  age. 

"  Mother  has  been  telling  me  about  you. 
You  are  a  good  boy,  she  says.  I  want  you 
to  talk  to  ine  about  good  things." 

Robert  looked  round  the  room,  as  if  for  a 
subject  to  start  on.  It  was  small,  but  very 
neat.  The  wood-work  was  unpainted,  but 
the  open  window  had  let  in  a  branch  of 
honeysuckle  in  full  bloom,  and  its  scent  was 
delightful.  A  small  table,  covered  with  a 
white  cloth,  held  a  glass  of  pure  water. 
There  were  no  unsightly  phials  of  medicine 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  117 

about,  as  a  constant  reminder  of  being  sick. 
Above  this,  on  the  plain  white- washed  walls, 
were  some  pretty  coloured  prints  represent- 
ing different  scenes  in  the  life  of  our  Sa- 
viour. One  of  these — Christ  blessing  little 
children — took  the  attention  of  Robert. 
Jimmy's  eyes,  which  had  followed  his,  were 
fixed  there  too.  He  smiled. 

"  That  is  the  one  I  like  best.  I  often  look 
at  it,  and  wish  that  Jesus  would  bless  me. 
Do  you  think  he  will,  Robert?" 

"Yes,  I  know  he  will;  just  as  he  did 
when  on  earth.  The  pretty  hymn  says : 

'  Though  now  he  is  not  here  below, 

But  on  his  heavenly  hill, 
To  him  may  little  children  go, 
And  seek  a  blessing  still.'  " 

"  Oh,  how  sweet  that  is  !  I  think  I  used  to 
know  that  hymn.  Sissy  and  me  once  went  to 
a  Sunday-school  over  the  hill ;  and  they  taught 
us  so  many  pretty  verses  there.  I  could 
say — 'Gentle  Jesus,  meek  and  mild,' — and 
1  Lord,  teach  a  little  child  to  pray.'  I  can 
say  that  now. 


118  LITTLE   BOB   TKUE, 

And  folding  his  wasted  hands,  and  look- 
ing up,  the  child  repeated  with  deep  solem- 
nity : 

"  Lord,  teach  a  little  child  to  pray  ; 

Thy  grace  betimes  impart ; 
And  grant  thy  Holy  Spirit  may 

Renew  my  infant  heart. 

A  sinful  creature  I  was  born, 
Aud  from  the  birth  I  strayed  ; 

I  must  be  wretched  and  forlorn, 
Without  thy  mercy's  aid. 

But  thou  canst  all  my  sins  forgive, 

Aud  wash  away  their  stain  ; 
Canst  fit  my  soul  with  thee  to  live, 

And  in  thy  kingdom  reign." 

This  was  indeed  prayer ;  the  earnest  offer- 
ing up  of  the  desires  of  the  heart  to  God 
"  for  things  agreeable  to  his  will ;"  and  He 
who  willeth  not  the  death  of  a  sinner,  but 
would  rather  that  he  should  turn  to  him  and 
live,  has  promised  to  give  the  Holy  Spirit 
to  them  that  ask  him. 

Eobert  then  opened  his  bundle,  and  took 


THE   DKIVER  BOY.  119 

out  his  Bible  and  little  hymn  book,  the 
two  precious  companions  of  his  weary  jour- 
ney. The  sick  boy's  eyes  sparkled  with 
pleasure.  •* 

"  Oh !  you  will  read  to  me ;  can  you — will 
you,  Robert  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  will,"  said  Robert.  "  Can't  you 
read  any,  Jimmy  ?" 

"  No,  not  much.  Father  always  said  he 
couldn't  spare  us  to  go  to  school.  He 
wanted  us  at  home  to  work.  Sissy  went,  for 
mother  made  out  to  spare  her;  and  she  taught 
me  all  I  know.  And  then  we  went  to  the 
Sunday-school  I  told  you  of." 

"  Don't  any  one  read  to  you  ?" 

"  Father  does  some  on  Sundays,  when  he 
don't  want  to  go  anywhere  ;  and  mother  too, 
whenever  she  can  get  time.  But  that's  .not 
often,  for  she  has  a  great  deal  of  work  to  do. 
I'm  afraid  I'm  a  great  trouble  to  my  mother. 
I  wish  I  could  do  something  to  help  her." 

"  And  so  you  do,  Jimmy  dear,"  said  his 
mother,  coming  forward  from  the  door, 
where  she  had  been  listening  to  the  beloved 


120  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

voice  of  her  child.  "  You  help  mother  by 
your  patient  ways,  and  your  pleasant  looks 
and  words.  But  you  were  always  a  good 
boy,  Jimmy." 

"No,  mother,  not  always.  I  was  born  a 
sinful  creature,  and  have  nothing  good  in 
me.  But  Christ  can  make  me  fit  for  his  hea- 
venly kingdom,  and  wash  away  all  my 
stains." 

The  child's  mind  'still  evidently  ran  on 
the  sweet  hymns  that  had  so  impressed  his 
infant  mind  ;  and  brought  home  to  his  heart 
and  conscience  by  the  life-giving  Spirit,  they 
had  been  to  him  in  the  place  of  the  usual 
means  of  grace. 

Kobert  read  to  his  little  companion  until 
the  shades  of  night  began  to  gather  ;  and  the 
mother,  fearful  of  the  chill,  evening  air, 
came  in  to  close  the  window,  and  draw  the 
coverings  more  closely  around  her  sick 
child.  She  then  showed  Kobert  that  Jimmy 
had  fallen  asleep,  and  whispered  that  he 
should  come  with  her  into  the  light  and 
pleasant  kitchen. 


THE   DRIVER    BOY.  121 

It  was  quite  cheerful  there.  The  table 
was  set  for  supper ;  and  the  firelight  glim- 
mered brightly  over  the  cleanly  s-wept  hearth} 
and  up  the  wide  chimney.  By-and-by,  came 
the  tramp  of  many  noisy  footsteps  just  out- 
side the  kitchen  door.  The  farmer  and  his 
sons  had  returned  from  their  day's  chopping 
in  the  distant  clearing.  As  each  tall  form 
darkened  the  window,  Robert  thought  there 
were  indeed  "  e'en-a'most  enough  boys." 
Throwing  down  his  hat  and  coat  into  a  cor- 
ner as  he  came  in,  the  farmer  called  loudly, 
but  yet  in  a  cheerful,  good-humoured  way — 

"  Come,  mother,  now  ;  where  is  that  sup- 
per ?  We're  just  as  sharp  set  as  our  own 
axes,  I  tell  you  what,  with  felling  timber  all 
day,  and  walking  home  in  the  fresh  air." 

He  was  just  in  the  act  of  drawing  up  his 
chair  to  the  table,  when  his  glance  fell  on 
Robert. 

"  So  we  have  strangers,  hey  ?" 

His  wife  hastened  to  make  him  acquainted 
with  Robert's  story ;  but  the  brow  of  her 
husband  darkened  not  a  little,  and  he  shook 

his  head,  doubtfully. 
11 


122  LITTLE   B">B  TRUE, 

"  I  don't  want  to  be  churlish  and  mean, 
not  I ;  and  so  the  little  boy's  welcome  to  his 
supper,  and  a  bed.  Bat  when  morning 
comes,  he  will  have  to  go — we've  plenty  of 
mouths  to  feed  here." 

Eobert  was  not  unused  to  such  receptions 
now;  so,  although  he  thought  to  himself 
that  the  father  and  his  stupid-faced  sons,  who 
seemed  to  care  for  nothing  but  eating,  were 
very  different  from  little  Jimmy  and  his  mo- 
ther, he  did  not  refuse  the  offered  supper,  but 
accepted  it  thankfully. 

Then  the  good  woman  took  him  into  a 
nice  little  room,  where  he  had  a  better 
bed  than  he  had  met  with  since  he  left 
home ;  and  thus  refreshed  and  comforted, 
there  was  nothing  to  hinder  him  from 
quiet  and  pleasant  sleep. 


THE  DKIVER  BOY.  123 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HIS   JOURNEY  TO   THE   BLACKSMITH  S    SHOP. — MEETS   WITE 
STRANGE    COMPANIONS   THERE. 

IT  was  yet  the  dim  twilight  of  the  coming 
day,  when  Kobert  awoke  to  find  the  house- 
hold all  astir.  The  thought  of  his  being 
obliged  to  continue  his  journey  had  not  kept 
him  from  sleeping  soundly,  and  the  good 
rest  he  had  enjoyed  made  him  feel  as  brisk 
as  ever.  He  hastened  to  prepare  himself 
quickly  for  going  out ;  but  hearing  voices 
in  the  next  room,  he  hesitated  about  doing 
so ;  and,  although  he  did  not  intend  to  lis- 
ten, he  could  not  avoid  hearing  all  that  was 
said,  through  the  roughly  jointed  boards 
that  partitioned  the  two  apartments. 

"  Now,  mother,"  said  the  loud  voice  of  the 
farmer,  "  don't  be  so  unreasonable.  Haven't 
we  enough  boys  of  our  own  to  feed  and  clothe, 
but  you  must  needs  take  another?" 


124  LITTLE    BOB   TRUE, 

"  Not  altogether,  John ;  that  would  be  un- 
reasonable. But  let  us  shelter  the  child  a 
few  days,  until  he  is  rested,  or  we  hear  of 
some  place  for  him.  If  you  could  only 
have  seen  how  Jimmy  took  to  him  yester- 
day, and  have  heard  how  pretty  they  talked 
together !" 

"  Yes ;  there  is  Jimmy,  too,  laid  up  sick 
and  a  burden,  when  he  ought  to  be  a  help 
to  us." 

"Don't,  John,  don't — "  said  his  wife  in  a 
frightened  tone.  "Jimmy  a  burden  and  a 
trouble!  Why,  the  dear  child  is  a  living  les- 
son to  us  every  day  of  our  lives.  To  think 
that  we  have  never  taught  him  anything 
good;  and  now  God  is  teaching  him,  and 
making  him  fit  to  go  to  heaven,  where  our 
dear  little  Mary  has  gone." 

If  there  had  been  one  thing  more  espe- 
cially the  pride  and  delight  of  the  father's 
heart,  it  had  been  this  beloved  child — the 
pet  lamb,  now  the  "  one  dead  lamb  of  the 
flock."  The  mother's  allusion  to  her  visibly 
softened  him,  but  he  was  too  firmly  set 


,     THE   DEIVER  BOY.  125 

in  his  own  way  to  give  up  the  matter  so 
easily. 

"  Well,  Susy,"  he  said,  as  he  arose  to  go 
out,  "  I  didn't  mean  to  vex  you,  or  speak 
harshly  about  little  Jimmy.  But  this  strange 
lad — I  just  mean  as  I  say  about  him.  So, 
when  I  come  back  again,  I  shall  expect  to 
hear  that  you  have  got  rid  of  him." 

"  Now  that's  just  like  John  Groves,"  said 
his  wife  to  herself,  as  the  outer  door  closed 
with  something  of  a  decided  bang ;  "  when  he 
once  puts  his  foot  down,  the  matter  is  set- 
tled. But  at  any  rate,  I  shan't  let  the  poor 
child  go  without  his  breakfast." 

So  the  good  woman  busied  herself  in  pre- 
paring a  nice,  comfortable  meal  for  Kobert  ; 
and  when  it  was  all  ready,  proceeded  to  call 
him  to  partake  of  it.  To  her  surprise  she 
found  him  not  only  up  and  dressed,  but  ty- 
ing the  last  knot  in  the  handkerchief,  which 
contained  all  his  worldly  possessions. 

"Well,  I  do  believe  you  have  heard  all 
that  John  has  been  telling  me,"  she  said.  "  But, 
don't  be  vexed  about  it ;  for  he  is  not  an  ill- 
11* 


126  LITTLE   BOB   TKUE,     ^ 

hearted  man, — only  positive  like.  And  don't 
be  disheartened  either,  for  I  think  I  can  tell 
you  now,  where  you  can  find  work." 

"Oh!  can  you?"  said  Robert,  brightening 
up  ;  "I  shall  be  so  much  obliged  to  you." 

"Yes,  I  am  pretty  sure  I  can.  It  just 
came  into  my  head  a  while  ago  ;  and  it  seems 
strange  now,  that  I  did  not  think  of  it  before. 
My  husband's  brother  lives  about  fifteen  miles 
from  here.  He  is  a  blacksmith ;  and  often 
goes  to  the  coal  mines,  where  they  want  a 
number  of  boys  to  work.  I  have  heard  him 
talk  sometimes  of  the  lads  that  come  along 
by  his  shop,  looking  for  places ;  and  if  you 
tell  him  that  you  have  been  here,  and  all 
about  us,  he  will  be  sure  to  befriend  you. 
Besides,  the  road  from  here  is  more  travelled 
than  the  way  you  came ;  and  you  will  most 
likely  get  a  lift,  now  and  then,  in  somebody's 
wagon.  Mind  and  ask  for  James  Groves, 
the  blacksmith ;  my  husband's  name  is  John." 

The  expectation  of  an  occasional  ride  was 
not  an  undesirable  one  to  Robert ;  who,  as  he 
sat  at  breakfast,  could  not  help  casting  wistful 


THE   DKIVEK  BOY.  127 

glances  sometimes  at  the  bare  toes,  that 
peeped  out  from  the  rents  in  his  worn-out 
shoes.  He  was  evidently  calculating  the 
amount  of  suffering  they  would  have  to  en- 
dure, through  the  rugged  length  of  the  fifteen 
miles'  travel.  The  same  idea  seemed  to  have 
entered  the  mind  of  good  Susan  Groves  ;  for, 
after  considering  a  moment,  she  went  to  a 
cupboard,  and  returned  with  a  pair  of  new 
shoes. 

"  These  were  Jimmy's.  I  bought  them 
myself;  for  I  was  determined  he  should  go  to 
school,  if  he  ever  got  well  again.  But  he 
will  never  need  them  now.  Dear !  oh  dear  I" 
she  continued,  sinking  down  upon  a  little 
bench ;  "  how  often  I  have  held  those  little 
feet  in  my  hands,  and  wondered  what  road 
they  would  have  to  travel !  I  know  now." 

By  this  time  Robert  was  all  ready  for 
his  journey;  and  thanking  his  kind  friend 
very  heartily,  he  was  opening  the  door  to  go 
out,  when  he  suddenly  bethought  himself. 

"  May  I  see  Jimmy  before  I  go  ?" 

"  Yes  indeed,  you  may.     But  I  am  think- 


128  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

ing  he  is  asleep  now.  He  coughs  greatly  most 
nights ;  and  that  makes  him  heavy  in  the 
morning." 

Yes !  Jimmy  was  sleeping ;  so  peacefully 
that,  except  for  the  gentle  breathing,  it  might 
have  been  mistaken  for  the  last  quiet  rest. 
Yet  as  he  slept  he  smiled ;  and  when  Kobert 
stooped  down,  and  laid  aside  the  soft  hair 
that  fell  over  his  pale  cheeks,  he  smiled  still 
more,  and  murmured  words  in  his  happy 
dreams. 

Eobert  thought  awhile,  and  then  took  out 
his  little  hymn  book,  and  laid  it  where  the 
child  would  be  sure  to  see  it  when  he  awoke. 
It  was  all  he  had  to  bestow,  and  it  was  not 
a  little;  for  it  had  been  one  of  Lottie's  favour- 
ite books,  and  she  had  given  it  to  him  when 
she  went  away. 

Good  Susan  Groves'  conjecture  about  the 
probability  of  Robert's  securing  help  in  his 
journey,  did  not  prove  to  be  ill-founded ;  for 
in  the  course  of  the  day  he  overtook  two 
empty  wagons,  whose  drivers  were  good-na- 
tured enough  to  let  him  ride  as  far  as  they 


THE    DRIVER   BOY.  129 

went  themselves;  the  route  of  the  last  one 
stretching  beyond  the  point  where  Robert's 
journey  terminated.  So,  at  nightfall,  he  found 
himself  within  sight  of  the  ruddy  blaze  of 
the  blacksmith's  forge. 

The  evening  had  set  in  cold  and  rainy,  with 
an  easterly  wind  that  threatened  a  severe 
storm  ;  and  Robert,  as  he  nestled  down 
among  the  loose  straw  in  the  bed  of  the  wag- 
on, felt  thankful  for  its  shelter,  and  relieved 
to  think  that  the  end  of  his  journey  was  so 
near.  He  had  begun  to  be  almost  lulled  to 
sleep  by  the  sameness  of  the  horses'  measured 
trot,  when  they  suddenly  stood  quite  still,  and 
their  driver's  monotonous  whistle  changed 
to  a  loud  "  Hilloa  !" 

The  noisy  clang  of  the  blacksmith's  ham- 
mer ceased  at  once ;  and  in  a  moment  more, 
a  tall,  stout  man,  standing  in  the  open  door, 
intercepted  the  light  within. 

"  Your  name's  James  Groves,  I  suppose," 
said  the  driver.  "  Here's  a  youngster  who 
has  some  business  with  you,  he  says.  Come, 
tumble  down,  my  lad,  for  I  want  to  be  off." 


130  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

The  blacksmith  stood  looking  down  on 
the  little  figure  so  unceremoniously  left  at 
his  door.  Robert  was  indeed  very  little,  and 
the  man,  like  his  entertainer  of  the  preceding 
night,  was  of  the  sons  of  Anak  in  size.  But 
Robert  did  not  fail  to  discover  certain  pleas- 
ant traits  about  the  large  blue  eyes  and  broad 
mouth,  that  encouraged  him  to  tell  his  er- 
rand and  his  plans ;  and  he  was  rewarded, 
when  he  had  finished,  by  a  good-natured  smile 
from  the  honest  blacksmith. 

"  Well,  you're  just  in  luck;  for  I'm  going 
down  to  the  mines  early  to-morrow  morning, 
and  I'll  try  what  I  can  do  for  you.  Besides 
you'll  have  company  there;  for  I  have 
another  one  inside  fresh  caught.  He  has 
just  stopped  in  out  of  the  rain  ;  and  he  says 
he's  bound  for  the  mines." 

He  pointed,  as  they  entered  the  shop,  to 
the  figure  of  a  boy,  crouched  on  the  bare 
ground,  and  as  near  as  possible  to  the  blazing 
fire.  His  clothes  were  mere  bundles  of  rags, 
and  saturated  with  wet.  Beside  him- lay  a 
large,  rough  dog,  evidently  enjoying,  as  much 


-- 


THE    BLACKSMITH.  Page    130. 


THE   DRIVER   BOY.  131 

as  his  master,  the  shelter  from  the  inclement 
weather.  The  boy's  arm  was  thrown  round 
the  dog's  hairy  neck ;  and  as  they  cowered 
side  by  side  on  the  earthen  floor,  it  was  dif- 
ficult at  first  to  tell  the  human  from  the  brute 
animal. 

"  Now  that's  what  I  call  a  regular  run- 
away," said  James  Groves  in  a  low  voice,  as 
he  stood  looking  with  some  disgust  at  the 
pair  before  him ;  "  but  I  can  tell  by  your 
looks  that  you  are  just  what  you  say.  And 
so  you've  been  to  John's  and  seen  all  the 
folks.  Well,  sit  down  on  this  turned -up 
keg — we're  not  particular  about  'commoda- 
tions  here — and  tell  us  all  about  it." 

Robert  observed,  in  the  course  of  his  story, 
that  the  blacksmith  was  not  his  only  hearer ; 
for  gradually  the  recumbent  bundle  before 
them  uncoiled  itself,  and  a  pair  of  cunning 
eyes  looked  up  out  of  a  mass  of  uncombed 
hair  into  the  face  of  the  speaker.  As  he 
finished,  the  object  brought  itself  into  a 
sitting  posture,  showing  the  countenance  of 
me  young  in  years,  but  marked  with  the 


132  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

lines  of  depravity  and  wretchedness.  The 
dog,  as  if  to  attract  notice  also,  arose  and 
shook  himself. 

"  What  is  your  dog's  name  ?"  said  the 
blacksmith,  patting  the  woolly  head  of  the 
animal,  as  it  was  laid  caressingly  on  his 
knee. 

"  Bough,"  said  the  boy  shortly. 

"  And  is  your  name  Kough  too  ?"  asked 
the  man  with  a  laugh. 

"  You  may  call  me  that  if  you  like,  though 
my  name's  Joe.  I  never  had  any  other  as  I 
knows  on — one's  enough." 

"  But  if  both  are  called  Eough,  how  will 
you  know  which  it  is  that's  wanted  ?" 

"Oh,  we're  never  far  apart ;  so  if  one  comes 
t'other's  sure  to  follow." 

"  Did  they  call  you  so  where  you  came 
from  ?"  said  the  man,  evidently  much  amused 
with  the  singular  answers  of  the  boy. 

"  No,  they  called  me  Idle  Joe,  and  Wicked 
Joe,  and  sometimes  Ugly  Joe.  I  don't  care." 

"  I'm  afraid  you  don't  care  enough,  my  lad. 
They  used  to  say  in  my  young  days — *  don't 


THE   DRIVER   BOY.  133 

care  was  hung.'  And  if  you  begin  so  early 
in  life  to  be  reckless  about  the  opinion  of 
others,  you'll  find  yourself  getting  worse 
and  worse,  and  harder  and  harder.  It's 
better  to  care  too  much  than  not  care  at  all." 

The  boy  scarcely  heard  this  speech  to  an 
end,  before  he  again  crouched  down  by  his 
canine  friend,  and  laid  his  head  on  his 
woolly  shoulder,  as  if  it  had  been  a  pillow. 
He  was  evidently  in  no  mood  for  serious 
talk. 

"  Well,  my  boys,"  said  the  smith,  rising, 
and  stretching  his  huge  limbs  with  a  yawn, 
"  I'm  thinking  of  shutting  up  for  the  night. 
It  will  be  best  for  you  to  stay  here  till 
morning ;  for  I  have  no  house  of  my  own  to 
take  you  to.  But  I've  often  passed  the  night 
here  myself,  when  I  wanted  to  be  up  early, 
and  about  my  work  ;  and  there's  a  rug  and 
blanket  somewhere  about,  that  will  make  you 
as  good  a  bed  as  you'll  find  most  places." 

"  Rough's  my  bed,"  said  Joe,  coiling  him- 
self up  into  a  rounder  heap  ;  "  I  don't  want 
no  better." 
12 


134  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

"But  Rough  can't  get  you  your  supper, 
I  suppose  ;  so  you  won't  object  to  that— will 
you  ?" 

"No  ;  for  I'm  proper  hungry,  I  am.  But 
Rough  has  got  me  my  supper  and  my  dinner 
too,  many's  the  time.  He  can  fish  in  the 
ponds  like  a  man  ;  and  his  big  paws  are  first 
rate  to  hold  down  birds  and  rabbits.  We've 
lived  weeks  and  weeks  in  the  woods  on  such 
things — Rough  and  me." 

James  Groves  seemed  to  regard  the  boy 
and  his  four-footed  companion  as  a  pair  of 
natural  curiosities ;  for  he  stood  looking  at 
them  some  time  without  moving.  At  last 
he  bethought  himself  of  the  promised  supper, 
and  left  the  shed  to  procure  it. 

When  he  returned  after  a  brief  absence, 
he  brought  with  him  a  large  earthen  pitcher 
of  hot  broth,  with  plenty  of  brown  bread, 
and  slices  of  meat.  This  bountiful  repast 
was  eagerly  partaken  of  by  the  two  little 
boys,  Joe  especially,  who  devoured  his  por- 
tion like  one  half  famished.  But  even  in 
his  hunger,  he  did  not  forget  to  share  with 


THE   DEIVEB  BOY.  135 

his  friend  Rough  ;  to  whom  he  showed  an 
attachment,  which  seemed  to  be  the  one  re- 
deeming point  in  his  character. 

When  their  supper  was  over,  James 
Groves,  having  made  all  safe,  departed,  leav- 
ing the  inmates  x)f  the  shed  to  make  them- 
selves comfortable  in  their  own  way.  This 
with  Joe  and  his  dog  seemed  to  consist  in 
securing  as  much  warmth  to  their  limbs  as 
possible ;  and,  having  thus  all  their  wants 
satisfied,  they  sunk  into  a  state  of  indolent 
repose.  • 

But  Robert's  thoughts  were  too  busy  to 
permit  him  to  sleep  at  once ;  so  he  em- 
ployed himself  for  some  time  in  looking 
about  the  premises,  and  considering  the  sit- 
uation in  which  he  found  himself.  The 
building  was  a  long,  low  shed,  blackened 
by  time  and  smoke  ;  the  roof,  in  some  places 
decayed  and  open  to  the  weather,  letting  in 
more  than  the  sound  of  pattering  rain-drops. 
On  bars  across  the  openings  that,  in  the  day 
time,  served  for  windows,  but  at  night  were 
secured  by  a  single  wooden  shutter,  were 


136  LITTLE  BOB  TBUE, 

hung  horse  shoes  and  other  bits  of  iron  as 
signs  of  the  trade.  In  a  recess  at  one  end, 
were  suspended  garments  of  all  sizes  and 
fashions ;  a  long  slab  bench,  together  with 
some  empty  nail  kegs,  like  the  one  which 
had  been  given  him  for  a  seat,  made  up  the 
rest  of  the  furniture.  There  was  nothing 
more  to  see ;  so,  stirring  up  the  fire,  Robert 
began  to  read  in  his  little  Bible  by  its  flick- 
ering light. 

He  was  startled  by  the  shrill  voice  of 
Joe  ;  and  looking  up  saw  that  he  was  fully 
awake,  and  staring  with  his  bright  eyes  into 
his  face. 

"  What's  that  you've  got  ?" 

"The  Bible,"  said  Robert,  turning  its 
open  pages  round  to  his  strange  companion  ; 
"do  you  want  to  hear  me  read  it?" 

"  I  don't  care,"  said  the  boy,  sinking  down 
to  his  former  posture. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  he  rose 
again  into  an  attitude  of  attention,  and 
stretching  out  his  hand  grasped  Robert  by 
the  arm. 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  137 

"  There— I've  enough  of  that.  Didn't  the 
man  call  you  Bob  True  ?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Robert,  wonderingly. 

"  Then  you  don't  tell  lies — do  you  ?" 

"  I  hope  not ;  I  try  not  to." 

"  Well  then,  tell  me — have  you  any  mo- 
ney ?" 

Eobert  hesitated  ;  for,  in  truth,  he  did  not 
like  to  confess  to  the  strange  being  before 
him,  that  he  still  had  a  little  sum. 

But  Joe  did  not  wait  for  an  answer.  He 
drew  out  a  dirty  pack  of  cards  from  some 
part  of  his  loose  attire. 

"  You.  needn't  be  thinking  lies,  for  I  know 
you  have  some.  So  hand  over  a  fip,  and  stir 
up  the  fire,  and  we'll  see  who'll  get  the  whole 
on  it." 

"  No,"  said  Robert,  firmly  ;  "  I  wouldn't 
gamble  if  I  was  ever  so  rich.     I  have  only 
a  very  little  money,  and  I  want  to  keep  it 
to  help  me  on  my  way.     And  now  I  think 
of  it,  the  blacksmith  said  we  were  to  go  to 
sleep  as  soon  as  we  could,  for  he  should  be 
.  here  br/ght  and  early." 
12* 


138  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

It  was  not  yet  day  dawn,  when  James 
Groves  came  into  the  shed  with  a  lantern, 
and  aroused  the  little  boys.  The  storm  had 
cleared  away,  and  the  full  moon  shone 
brightly,  although  wading  through  still 
threatening  clouds.  Beyond  the  open  door 
they  could  see  a  covered  wagon  with  a  team 
of  horses. 

"  Come,  now,"  said  the  blacksmith,  when 
he  had  succeeded  in  getting  them  thoroughly 
awake ;  "  I  want  you  to  be  smart  and  stir 
round  a  bit.  And  I'll  tell  you  now  what  I 
am  going  to  do  for  you  both.  There's  a 
many  boys  come  to  me  in  just  such  a  trim 
as  you  are,  out  of  elbows,  and  out  of  pock- 
et. So  I  just  puts  decent  clothes  on  their 
backs,  and  when  they  gets  able,  they  pays 
me.  Now  I  know  you  will  be  honest,  and 
give  me  back  what  is  my  own,  Bob  True ; 
but  as  for  this  little  runaway,  I'm  doubtful. 
However,  I'm  not  agoing  to  take  him  along 
with  me  in  such  a  fix ;  so  make  haste,  both 
of  you,  and  change  your  clothes." 

Robert  was  very  th'ankful  for   ttie    kind 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  189 

offer ;  and  when  he  had  washed,  and  dressed 
himself  in  a  suit  of  coarse  but  clean  clothing^ 
which  his  new  friend  took  from  the  recess, 
where  he  kept  them  ready  for  service,  he  felt 
much  benefited  by  the  change.  But  Joe  re- 
sisted all  attempts  to  deprive  him  of  his 
rags. 

"They  were  good  enough  for  him — he 
was  used  to  them — and,  besides,  Rough 
would  not  know  him  in  new  clothes." 

The  secret  was  at  last  discovered,  when 
Robert,  in  removing  some  article  from  his 
old  to  his  new  pockets,  missed  his  little 
stock  of  money.  James  Groves  immedi- 
ately dived  his  broad  hand  into  the  gar- 
ments of  little  vagabond  Joe,  and  brought 
up  a  small  purse  with  Robert's  name  on  it. 

"What  did  you  take  this  for?"  said  he 
sternly,  shaking  the  boy,  at  the  same  time, 
severely. 

"Didn't  take  it  at  all  —  slept  all  night 
sound.  Must  have  been  Rough;  he  does  all 
such  tricks." 

"  More  likely  Rough's  master.     So  don't 


140  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

tell  me  any  more  untruths,  or,. I  will  send 
you  off' directly.  What  did  you  want  to  get 
with  it  ?" 

"  Pea  nuts  and  candy,"  said  the  boy, 
promptly.  But  James,  who  had  continued 
his  search,  had,  by  this  time,  discovered, 
among  a  variety  of  articles  in  the  lad's 
pocket,  the  greasy  pack  of  cards,  and  held 
them  up  to  the  light  with  many  expressions 
of  disgust. 

"  So,  this  ia  what  you  wanted  it  for,  my 
boy.  I'm  afraid  you're  a  hard  case,  but  I'll 
try  you  once.  So  we'll  throw  this  filthy 
pack  into  the  fire ;  and  let's  have  off  these 
rags  in  no  time." 


THE   DBIVER  BOY.  141 


CHAPTER  VII. 

LIFE   IN  THE   MINES  AND   OUT   OF   THEM. — THE    CHBISTIAN 

MINER. 

ALL  was  noisy,  active  life  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  mines.  The  dense  black  smoke 
from  the  numerous  forges  and  foundries — 
for  the  requisite  material  being  so  close  at 
hand,  all  needful  machinery  is  made  on  the 
spot — the  rattle  of  cars  loaded  with  coal, 
hastening  to  deposit  their  burdens  at  the 
canal  wharves,  and  again  returning — the 
canal  itself,  with  its  swarms  of  human  beings 
all  busy,  full  of  energy,  and  working  with 
a  will, — made  up  a  picture  new  and  not  un- 
interesting to  one  unfamiliar  with  its  gen- 
eral features 

Groves,  the  blacksmith,  had  visited  the 
place  too  often  to  make  a  wonder  of  it ; 
and  little  Joe,  with  his  dog  Eough,  had 
slipped  away  as  soon  as  the  wagon  stopped, 


142  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

without  giving  notice  of  his  intention.  He 
was  doubtless  no  stranger  there — the  mines 
or  canal  being  a  common  refuge  for  those, 
who,  weary  of  parental  or  social  relations, 
break  away  from  them,  to  seek  their  own  lot 
in  the  world. 

But  Kobert,  whose  life  had  hitherto  been 
spent  in  a  secluded  valley,  which  the  din  of 
commerce  and  manufactures  had  never- 
reached,  felt  as  one  does  who  looks  for  the 
first  time  on  a  moving  panorama  ;  it  was  as 
a  beautiful,  entrancing  dream  whose  details 
he  almost  feared  to  lose  as  they  passed 
quickly  by.  He  followed  his  companion 
from  place  to  place  ;  and  the  kind  blacksmith,' 
observing  the  interest  he  showed  in  the  dif- 
ferent objects,  took  some  trouble  to  explain 
to  him  the  operations  that  came  under  their 
notice. 

He  first  showed  him  that  the  mines  dif- 
fered in  their  localities — some  being  merely 
quarries  in  the  sides  of  hills,  and  therefore 
furnishing  the  supplies  of  coal  with  greater 
facility  ;  but  such  as  are  beneath  the  surface, 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  143 

or,  as  it  is  called,  below  the  water  level,  are 
more  difficult  of  access.  For  the  purpose 
of  reaching  the  vein,  a  shaft  is  sunk  through 
it  to  the  depth  of  two  or  three  hundred  feet, 
broad  enough  to  admit  of  two  railway 
tracks.  At  the  required  depth,  gangways 
or  passages  are  cut,  also  furnished  with  rail- 
way tracks  ;  and  in  these  the  miners  work, 
blasting  and  picking  the  great},  masses  of 
coal,  until  they  have  a  sufficient  quantity  to 
load  the  cars,  which  are  then  drawn  to  the 
surface  by  ropes,  set  in  motion  by  steam 
power  in  the  mine.  This  is  the  work  of  but 
a  few  minutes ;  for  as  fast  as  a  loaded  car 
'  ascends,  an  empty  one  returns  on  the  parallel 
track. 

"  How  would  you  like  to  go  down  here  ?" 
said  James  Groves  to  little  Robert,  as  they 
stood  on  the  edge  of  the  slope,  and  looked 
on  the  busy  scene  beneath  them. 

Kobert  replied  that  he  would  like  it  very 
much ;  and  accordingly  followed  the  smith 
and  some  two  or  three  labourers,  whose  oc- 
cupation might  have  been  guessed  from  their 


144  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

begrimed  looks  and  dress,  along  the  footway 
that  led  between  the  railway  tracks.  As 
they  reached  the  bottom  of  the  shaft,  they 
perceived  water  shining  in  the  light  that 
came  from  above  ;  and  noticed  that  a  basin 
or  reservoir  had  been  cut  to  receive  it,  as 
it  trickled  from  the  subterranean  depths. 
They  learned  also  that  the  great  steam  en- 
gine, whose  powerful  wheels  and  ponderous 
machinery  struck  a  degree  of  awe  into 
Robert,  as  he  gazed  on  their  giant  move- 
ments, was  employed  in  pumping  up  this 
water  at  all  hours  of  the  night,  and  in  the 
day  time  when  not  engaged  with  the  cars. 

While  his  companion  was  asking  ques- 
tions about  this  and  various  other  subjects 
connected  with  the  mines,  Robert  tried  to 
use  his  eyes  as  well  as  he  could  in  looking 
about  him.  It  was  indeed  a  strange  place 
to  be  in.  The  great  overhanging  masses  of 
coal  were  propped  up  by  vast  pieces  of  tim- 
ber, which  were  wedged  in  to  support  their 
weight.  Along  the  galleries  twinkled  the 
miners'  lamps,  as  each  toiled  to  fulfil  his 


THE    DRIVER    BOY.  145 

appointed  task.  Many  were  the  sounds  to  be 
heard.  The  tremulous  motion  of  the  loaded 
cars,  as  they  glided  swiftly  on  their  way — 
the  noise  of  the  busy  pick  or  the  labourer's 
shovel — the  commingling  voices  of  the  men, 
— aroused  the  sleeping  echoes ;  but  above 
them  all  Eobert  heard  words  that  made  his 
heart  thrill,  and  instinctively  he  drew  nearer 
to  the  place  from  whence  the  voice  proceeded. 
There  was  a  recess  not  far  from  where  he 
stood  ;  and  in  it  a  solitary  miner  was  rest- 
ing for  a  few  moments  from  his  toil.  As  he 
leaned  on  a  loose  fragment  of  coal,  he  sang 
to  a  sweet,  familiar  tune  the  well  known 
psalm : 

"  Our  G-od,  our  help  in  ages  past, 

Our  hope  for  years  to  come, 
Our  shelter  from  the  stormy  blast, 
And  our  eternal  home, 

Beneath  the  shadow  of  thy  throne 

Thy  saiuts  have  dwelt  secure  ; 
Sufficient  is  thine  arm  alone, 

And  my  defence  is  sure. 
13 


146  LITTLE  BOB  TKUE, 

Before  the  hills  in  order  stood, 

Or  earth  received  her  frame, 
From  everlasting  thou  art  God, 

To  endless  years  the  same." 

It  was  a  literal  crying  unto  God  from  the 
depths ;  and  Robert,  hailing  it  as  the  voice  of 
a  friend,  fearlessly  crept  on  until  he  stood 
by  the  side  of  the  miner. 

The  man  looked  up,  as  he  heard  Robert's 
step  ;  and  the  light  from  the  lamp  which  was 
fixed  in  his  cap,  fell  upon  the  features  of  an 
aged  person,  with  locks  that  would  have  been 
silver,  but  for  the  sprinkling  of  coal  dust  that 
clung  so  plentifully  to  them.  The  same 
gloomy  colour  imparted  a  wild  and  rather  un- 
earthly look  to  his  countenance ;  but  there  was 
no  mistaking  the  kindly  voice  and  gesture. 

"So,  my  little  man,  you've  come  to  see 
the  mines." 

"Yes,"  said  Robert;  "and  I  heard  you 
singing.  I  didn't  expect  to  hear  such  as  that. 
I  like  singing." 

"  Well,  so  do  I,  too,"  said  the  old  miner, 
"  when  it's  of  the  right  kind.  And  I'm  apt 


THE  DRIVER  BOY.  147 

co  think  the  heart  follows  the  words  in  most 
cases.  Now  I  was  just  thinking  of  the  power 
and  goodness  of  God,  in  creating  these  great, 
wonderful  places,  that  we  are  laying  open 
here,  and  preparing  them  for  our  use,  so 
many  hundred  years  ago.  I'm  no  great 
scholar  myself;  but  I've  heard  those  that  were, 
say,  that  all  these  great  blocks  of  coal,  that 
look  to  us  like  hard,  black  rocks,  were  once 
trees  and  shrubs,  just  like  those  above  yon- 
der." 

"  Were  they  ?"  said  Eobert,  wonderingly, 
as  he  looked  round  on  the  dark,  threatening 
masses,  which  shut  them  in  on  all  sides. 

"Well,  I've  no  doubt  they  were;  for  I 
often  come  across  things  in  my  work,  that 
look  like  it." 

As  he  spoke,  the  miner  handed  a  large 
piece  of  coal  to  Robert,  and  lowered  his  lamp 
that  he  might  examine  it.  It  was,  indeed, 
a  curious  proof  of  the  original  formation  of 
the  coal  beds  from  decayed  vegetable  mat- 
ter— the  impression  of  different  leaves  and 
flowers  being  as  distinctly  marked  as  by  the 
most  delicate  tracery  of  an  artist's  pencil. 


148  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

"  People  who  visit  the  mines  set  great 
store  by  such  as  these,"  said  the  man  ;  "  but 
it's  hard  to  keep  them  in  the  open  air.  They're 
slaty  and  crumbly." 

The  old  miner  then,  with  the  freedom  that 
belonged  to  his  age,  questioned  Robert  about 
himself  and  his  object  in  coming  to  the  mines; 
and  the  little  boy  was  not  unwilling  to  make 
him  acquainted  with  all  these  particulars,  for 
he  was  quite  taken  by  the  pleasant  manner 
of  the  old  miner ;  his  liking  being  not  a  little 
increased  by  finding  that  he  was  also  a  lover 
of  holy  things.  James  Groves  had  been  very 
kind  to  him,  but  he  had  not  once,  in  their 
intercourse,  named  that  precious  name  which 
is  so  sweet  in  a  believer's  ears  ;  so  how  could 
the  little  boy  know,  whether  or  not,  he  was 
a  Christian  ?  Like  the  shell,  fabled  to  ring 
of  the  moaning  sea,  even  when  cast  far  inland  j 
so  will  the  Christian  bear  ever  about  with 
him,  the  marks  of  a  life,  hidden  with  Christ 
in  God. 

It  was,  therefore,  not  difficult  for  the  two 
to  become  acquainted  ;  although  one  was  an 


THE    DRIVER   BOY.  149 

aged  pilgrim,  far  on  in  life's  journey,  the 
other,  but  a  babe  in  Christ,  -standing  at  its 
very  threshold.  Eobert  learned  that  his  new 
friend  was  called  David  Frazer, — a  name  fra- 
grant of  Scotland's  faith,  and  Scotland's  mar- 
tyrs. His  ancestors,  the  old  man  said,  had 
indeed  been  of  the  "  puir  hill  folk ;"  and  many 
traditions  had  reached  him  of  their  watchings 
by  night,  on  the  cold  bare  heath,  while  God's 
saints  worshipped  him  in  the  clefts  and  holes 
of  the  rocks. 

"  That,  may  be,  is  the  reason  I  like  the  hills 
and  solitary  places  so  much  myself,"  said  the 
old  miner.  "  They  seem  to  speak  to  me  of 
God,  and  his  being  '  a  hiding  place  from  the 
tempest,'  and  'the  shadow  of  a  great  rock 
in  a  weary  land.'  And  when  the  missionary 
comes  and  preaches,  and  we  miners  and  canal 
men,  gather  round  in  the  open  air  to  listen, 
it  looks  like  what  I  have  heard  tell  of  the 
hill  gatherings  in  the  old  Covenanter  times  ; 
only  there  are  none  now  to  hurt  us,  or  make 
us  afraid." 

"  Do  they  preach  that  way  here  ?"  said 
13* 


150  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

Kobert,  with  a  bright  look  ;  "  Oh  I  I  am  so 
glad."  .,;,,',<< 

"  And  why  are  you  so  very  glad,  my  little 
friend?" 

"  Oh,  because  these  are  the  only  good  clothes 
I  have ;  and  I  was  afraid  it  would  be  a  long, 
long  time  before  I  could  get  any  fit  to  go  to 
church  in — for  I  owe  for  these,  you  see.  But 
now  if  there's  preaching  out  of  doors,  I  can 
get  in  any  corner,  and  no  one  will  notice, 
even  if  my  clothes  are  old  and  poor." 

"  And  what  will  you  do  on  Sundays  when 
there  is  no  missionary  to  preach  ?" 

"  I  will  read  my  Bible,"  said  little  Eobert. 

"  Well,  but  I'm  afraid  you'll  find  it  hard  to 
do  that  sometimes  ;  for  the  places  where  they 
lodge  boys  like  you,  are  none  of  the  choicest. 
They  stow  in  as  many  as  they  can  get,  and 
there's  scarcely  elbow  room  to  eat  and  sleep 
in.  A  quiet  corner  to  read  the  Bible  in,  will 
be  more  than  you'll  find  reckoned  in  the 
bargain  ;  and,  even  if  you  had  it,  there  would 
be  little  comfort  or  peace,  with  noise  and 
confusion  all  around  you." 


THE   DRIVER   BOY.  151 

"  I  shall  "have  to  go  out  of  doors  then,  to 
read,"  said  Robert,  smiling  but  rather  sadly. 

"Yes,  that  will  do  while  this  fine  fall 
weather  lasts ;  but  when  frost  and  snow 
come,  it  won't  be  quite  so  pleasant.  What 
do  you  vsay  to  spending  Sundays  with  old 
David  ?  I've  got  a  nice  little  cabin  over 
the  hills  yonder  all  to  myself;  and,  though 
it's  not  very  large  nor  handsome,  there's  a 
corner  for  a  friend  and  a  welcome." 

Robert  had  only  time  to  thank  the  good 
old  man,  and  receive  directions  for  finding 
the  way  to  his  solitary  habitation,  when  he 
heard  the  blacksmith  calling  to  him,  and 
hastened  to  rejoin  him. 

"I  was  afraid  I  had  lost  you,  little  Bob 
True,"  said  James,  as  they  retraced  their  way 
up  the  track  to  the  entrance  of  the  mine; 
"  and  in  some  places  there  might  have  been 
danger  of  my  doing  so,  for  I  have  been  in 
mines  where  the  gangways  are  several  miles 
in  length.  And  now  I'm  going  to  show  you 
where  you  will  have  to  work.  It's  not  very 
hard,  but  it  requires  a  bright  eye  and  a  quick 


152  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

hand;  and  I  think  you  have  both,  or  I'm 
much  mistaken."  -•-.  t  \ 

Following  the  loaded  car  that  had  been 
drawn  up  from  the  mine,  James  Groves 
showed  Robert  that,  as  it  was  emptied  of  its 
contents,  they  flowed  in  one  continuous 
stream  to  the  breakers,  where  the  coal  is 
broken  into  the  different  sizes  required  for 
fuel.  After  it  has  passed  through  different 
screens  for  assorting  these  sizes,  it  has  to 
undergo  the  process  of  being  picked.  For 
the  purpose  of  removing  any  pieces  of  slate 
or  impure  coal,  there  are  boys  stationed  at 
intervals  to  pick  these  from  the  mass.  And 
here  Robert  found  out  the  meaning  of  the 
blacksmith's  remark  about  "a  bright  eye 
and  a  quick  hand ;"  for  he  saw  that  it  re- 
quired great  watching  and  sharp  practice  to 
detect  the  faulty  pieces,  as  the  coal  poured 
in  a  stream  through  doors  opening  on  a 
railroad,  on  which  the  cars  thus  filled  con- 
veyed the  coal  to  the  canal. 

James  Groves  looked  on  awhile,  until  he 
saw  that  Robert  had  in  some  degree,  as  he 


THE   DRTVER   BOY.  153 

expressed  it,  "  got  the  hang  of  it."  He  then 
told  him  that  he  would  be  obliged  to  leave 
him  very  soon,  as  he  had  some  business  of 
his  own  to  attend  to,  and  he  wished  to  get 
home  again  before  dark. 

"  Now,  if  you  only  had  some  place  to  sleep 
in,  and  get  your  meals  comfortably,  I  think 
you  will  make  out  well,  Bob  True.  I  wonder 
if  any  of  these  boys  knows  of  a  good  lodging- 
house  to  go  to  ?" 

"  Yes ;  at  aunt  Peggy's — down  by  the 
canal — she's  first-rate — "  chimed  in. a  chorus 
of  youthful  voices. 

James  waited  to  make  a  few  more  inquiries, 
and  ask  one  of  the  larger  boys  to  take  charge 
of  Robert  when  the  work  hours  should  be 
over.  He  then  shook  hands  with  his  little 
companion,  wished  that  he  might  do  well 
and  be  a  good  boy,  and  left  the  building. 

The  tall  form  of  the  blacksmith  had 
scarcely  disappeared,  when  from  the  shadow 
of  a  distant  corner  emerged  little  Joe  and  his 
dog ;  the  former  in  the  very  rags  he  had 
worn  on  the  preceding  night.  He  looked 


154:  LITTLE   BOB   TKUE, 

up  in  Robert's  face  with  a  cunning  expres- 
sion as  he  passed  him,  and  gave  a  pull  to 
the  sleeve  of  his  neatly  fitting  dark  blouse.  • 

"Better  do  as  Joe  does,  and  save  new 
clothes  for  Sundays." 

It  was  with  a  little  surprise  and  some  in- 
stinctive dread  that  Robert  perceived,  when 
the  work  hours  were  over,  that  Joe  was  tc 
be  one  of  the  company  to  the  lodging-place 
where  they  were  to  go.  He  seemed  to  be 
familiar  with  the  other  boys;  either  from 
being  an  old  acquaintance,  or  because  he 
possessed  peculiar  facilities  for  forming  new 
ones ;  and  their  walk  to  their  temporary  home 
was  enlivened  with  many  a  laugh  afforded 
by  the  vagaries  of  Joe  and  his  dog  Rough. 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  155 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

PEGGY   BRIGHT 'S   CABIN. 

PEGGY  BRIGHT,  or,  as  the  boys  called  her, 
aunt  Peggy,  was  the  widow  of  a  bargeman; 
and  having  therefore  spent  the  greater  part 
of  her  life  in  the  cabin  of  a  boat,  chose  to 
make  her  after  dwelling-place  as  near  like 
one  as  possible,  and  as  close  to  her  favourite 
element  as  circumstances  would  permit. 
Her  house  therefore  was  low  and  small,  built 
almost  at  the  edge  of  the  canal,  and  within 
the  sight  and  sound  of  all  its  noise  and  con- 
fusion. As  she  combined,  with  her  other 
employments,  the  active  trade  of  washing  for 
all  the  boatmen  and  labourers  who  had  no 
families  of  their  own,  the  rows  of  parti- 
coloured garments,  that  were  stretched  on 
poles  around  her  dwelling,  were  like  way- 
marks  to  direct  those  who  might  not  be  so 
well  acquainted  with  its  locality.  It  had  also 
another  characteristic. 


156  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

In  the  first  stages  of  her  struggles  for  a 
living,  aunt  Peggy  had  kept  a  sort  of  beei 
and  cake  shop.  A  board  sign  over  the  door, 
with  a  bottle  tilted  by  an  invisible  hand  in 
the  act  of  filling  a  foaming  glass,  together 
with  a  pile  of  circular  figures,  that  were 
intended  to  represent  the  edible  part  of  the 
entertainment,  showed  the  original  design  of 
the  establishment; — a  cross  of  red  chalk 
drawn  through  each  expressive  emblem,  gave 
notice  of  its  discontinuance. 

Within  all  was  neat  and  compact  and  well 
arranged,  from  the  tidy  figure  of  aunt  Peggy 
herself,  to  the  smallest  item  of  domestic 
economy.  She  was  a  little  brisk  woman, 
rather  sharp-featured  and  shrill- voiced  ; 
with  the  peculiarity  of  always  having  those 
features  enveloped  in  the  folds  of  a  bright 
blue  handkerchief,  which  was  knotted  in  a 
particular  fashion  under  her  chin.  But 
although  it  appeared  probable  that  there 
might  occasionally  be  a  gentle  breeze  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  aunt  Peggy,  it  seemed 
unlikely  that  cloudy  weather  would  last 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  157 

long.      She  might  be   quick-tempered,  but 
was  never  sullen. 

There  were  two  matters  for  wondering 
about  to  any  one  who  made  aunt  Peggy's 
dominions  a  visit.  One  was,  how  she  con- 
trived to  bestow  such  an  accumulation  of  all 
sorts  of  articles  great  and  small  within  the 
circumscribed  limits  of  her  dwelling.  The 
other,  how,  with  her  nice  and  particular 
ways,  she  could  tolerate  the  having  a  set 
of  ungovernable  boys,  with  their  gar- 
ments and  persons  none  of  the  cleanest,  in- 
vading her  tidy  premises.  The  first  diffi- 
culty might  be  resolved  by  referring  to  the 
natural  genius  some  people  have  of  finding 
i  place  for  everything, — the  readiest  way 
of  surely  finding  everything  in  its  place. 
The  second  was  easily  disposed  of.  Aunt 
Peggy  never  allowed  an  unscraped  foot,  or  un- 
washed hands  and  face,  to  enter  her  dwelling. 
There  was  a  large  vessel  of  water  placed  at 
the  door,  with  other  conveniences  for  the 
purpose  of  ablution  ;  and  when  the  time 
came  for  her  lodgers  to  arrive,  a  circum- 
14 


158  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

stance  which  could  easily  be  told  by  the 
noise  which  preceded  them,  the  mistress  of 
the  establishment  generally  found  something 
to  attend  to  on  the  outside  of  her  dwelling, 
so  as  to  make  sure  that  her  rules  were  well 
observed,  and  none  but  her  own  set  ad- 
mitted. * 

On  the  present  occasion,  she  was  actively 
engaged  in  placing  her  well-dried  clothes 
in  large  baskets,  when  the  boys  came  up. 
They  were  indeed  a  motley  crew,  of  all  sizes, 
and  it  might  be  said  of  all  colours  ;  for  some 
had  snatched  a  hasty  wash  on  leaving  work  ; 
others  appeared  in  a  dark  mask  of  coal  dust, 
with  white  eyes  and  teeth  looking  strangely 
by  contrast ;  and  a  very  few  with  really 
clean  hands  and  shining  red  cheeks.  Among 
these  last  was  our  little  Bob  True ;  and  on  him 
aunt  Peggy  appeared  to  look  with  particu- 
lar satisfaction.  She  seemed  too  to  have 
expected  him,  for  she  called  him  by  name ; 
and,  as  Robert  afterwards  learned,  his  friend 
the  blacksmith  had  taken  the  trouble  to  stop 
on  his  way  home,  and  bespeak  for  him  her 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  159 

kindly  offices.  But  with  Joe  and  his  dog 
Bough  the  case  was  entirely  different.  Noth- 
ing could  induce  her  to  receive  him  within 
her  dwelling  washed  or  unwashed  ;  and  the 
dog  she  regarded  with  perfect  horror.  It 
was  only  after  much  persuasion,  that  she 
consented  to  allow  the  little  vagrant,  as  she 
called  him,  to  sit  on  the  door  step,  while  he 
divided  his  supper  with  Eough,  who,  as  usual, 
crouched  down  afc  his  feet,  with  his  nose  on 
his  woolly  paws. 

Eobert  could  not  help  feeling  sorry  for 
the  outcast  boy ;  but,  when  he  entered  the 
dwelling,  he  could  scarcely  wonder  that  its 
owner  was  unwilling  to  admit  such  inmates 
within.  The  very  air  of  the  place  spoke  of 
order.  All  that  could  be  arranged  on  shelves 
were  so  bestowed ;  even  on  one  high  up  among 
the  unplastered  joists,  so  high  that  it  seemed 
as  if  a  ladder  must  be  used  to  reach  it,  were 
set  the  cracked  tea-pots  and  unused  lamps 
of  other  days.  Some  cheap  plaster  casts 
with  dull,  unmeaning  eyes,  and  an  earthen 
pot  of  gay  fall  flowers  marked  this  as  the 


160  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

ornamental  shelf;  the  contents  of  others  were 
of  a  more  common  description,  consisting 
of  articles  for  cooking  and  other  domestic 
purposes.  Some  baskets  and  hampers,  ropes 
of  onions,  and  pieces  of  dried  meat  hung  from 
hooks  driven  into  the  beams  above.  In  one 
corner,  a  calico  curtain  shut  off  a  part  of  the 
room  into  a  private  retreat  for  the  mistress 
of  the  house ;  in  another  a  step-ladder  led 
to  the  loft  above  where  she  was  used  to  be- 
stow her  lodgers.  But  they  were  not  the 
only  inmates  of  aunt  Peggy's  cabin.  She, 
like  others  of  her  class,  had  also  her  cherished 
pets,  ^whose  presence  explained  to  Eobert 
the  reason  of  her  unwillingness  to  receive 
the  dog  within  her  dwelling.  In  a  crib, 
curiously  contrived  of  basket  work,  were  a 
hen  and  her  chickens ;  a  fine  Maltese  cat, 
with  four  silver-grey  kittens,  reposed  in  a 
more  airy  receptacle  near  the  fire-place. 

As  soon  as  the  boys  were  all  washed,  sup- 
per was  announced  to  be  ready.  This  was 
abundant  and  good  of  its  kind ;  salt  meat 
and  potatoes  being  distributed  in  portions  ; 


THE   DHIVER  BOY.  161 

while  bread  and  molasses  and  coffee  were 
furnished  in  any  desirable  quantity.  For 
some  time  hunger  kept  the  boys  quiet,  as 
they  could  not  conveniently  eat  voraciously 
and  talk  at  the  same  time ;  but  once  their 
appetites  partially  appeased,  the  babel  of 
tongues  commenced.  Eobert  now  began  to 
have  some  insight  into  the  character  of  his 
companions  ;  and  his  heart,  that  had  been 
sinking  ever  since  he  had  been  left  with 
them,  revolted  still  more,  as  he  listened  to 
their  vile  conversation,  mingled  with  oaths 
that  made  his  ears  tingle.  He  had  never 
been  in  the  company  of  the  really  bad  be- 
fore ;  his  secluded  life  had  kept  him  from 
temptation  hitherto ;  arid  in  his  journey 
from  home,  when  he  was  obliged  to  ask  for 
lodgings,  he  had  for  the  most  part  chosen 
detached  farm  houses,  in  preference  to  those 
of  a  more  public  and  noisy  character.  So 
this  was  his  first  experience  of  evil.  How 
fervently  he  prayed  with  all  his  little 
heart :  "  Deliver  me,  oh !  deliver  me  from 
it!" 

14* 


162  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

Yet  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  Robert's 
companions  were  all  of  the  same  grade  in 
wickedness.  There  were  ringleaders  among 
them,  master  spirits,  as  there  are  in  all  such 
associations  of  youth.  Had  Robert  pos- 
sessed sufficient  discrimination  of  character, 
or  had  he  more  attentively  observed  the 
countenances  around  him,  he  might  have 
seen  that  "  evil  communications  corrupt 
good  manners,"  and  that  on  the  cheeks  of 
some  who  now  listened  unmoved,  if  they 
joined  not  in  with  the  more  hardened,  once 
burned  the  blush  of  honest  indignation  and 
shamA  So  true  it  is  that  "  they  who  han- 
dle pitch,  will  be  defiled  thereby  ;"  even 
though  it  may  be,  that,  kept  by  God's  grace, 
"  a  sunbeam  passes  through  pollution  un- 
polluted." 

One  of  the  largest  and  stoutest  of  the 
boys,  and  the  very  one  to  whose  care  James 
Groves  had  confided  Robert,  was  the  leader 
on  this  occasion.  His  real  name  was  Ben 
Waters ;  but,  as  there  were  two  Bens  in 
company,  the  others  chose  to  call  one,  "  Long 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  163 

Ben,"  and  the  other,  "  Little  Ben,"  in  refer 
ence  to  their  size.  Another,  with  shortr 
crisp  hair,  received  the  appellation  of  "  Cur- 
ly ;"  and  all  had  diminutives  expressive  of 
some  personal  distinction.  "  Little  Bob 
True  "  was  a  new  name  among  them ;  and 
as  they  mostly  hated  the  truth,  and  abode 
not  in  it,  they  appeared  determined  to  shun 
him  on  account  of  it. 

Not  so  was  Joe  treated.  He  still  sat  bal- 
ancing himself  half  in  and  half  out  of  the 
door ;  and,  having  finished  his  share  of  the 
supper,  was  amusing  himself  by  throwing 
up  some  scraps  for  Eough,  and  making  him 
jump  at  them.  Ben  Waters  sauntered  idly 
towards  him. 

"  Come  Joe,  where  are  the  pictures  ?" 

With  a  glance  of  deep  cunning,  Joe  ex- 
tracted, from  the  lining  of  his  battered  cap, 
a  pack  of  cards,  having  much  the  same  dingy 
appearance  as  the  set,  which  the  blacksmith 
had  consigned  to  the  flames,  that  morning 
before  leaving  the  shop. 

"  And  the  money,  Joe  ?" 


164:  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

The  boy  cast  a  hurried  glance  at  the 
group  that  had,  by  this  time,  gathered  round 
him.  Finally,  he  opened  his  begrimed  fin- 
gers, and  showed  that  they  had  closed  on  a 
bright  half  dollar. 

"  Ah !  Joe,"  said  Ben  Waters,  with  a 
wicked  laugh,  "  how  neatly  you  did  that !  I 
wonder  if  the  man  will  find  out  soon  where 
his  wallet  has  gone  to.  But  what  have  you 
done  with  the  rest  ?  This  don't  begin  to  be 
anywhere  near  the  whole  of  it." 

Joe  still  made  no  answer.  He  only 
grinned  a  little,  thereby  showing  his  large, 
white  teeth  in  strange  contrast  with  his  dark 
complexion. 

The  elder  boy  put  on  a  threatening 
look. 

"  Come,  my  fine  fellow,  this  won't  do. 
You'll  have  to  stop  my  tongue  with  silver, 
or  it  will  tell  tales.  There's  such  a  thing  as 
the  State's  prison,  mind.  You  needn't  look 
so  at  the  rest — let  them  tell  if  they  dare." 

Thus,  frightened  into  compliance,  Joe 
slowly  began  to  share  his  ill-gotten  wealth 


THE    DRIVER  BOY.  165 

with  his  evil  associate ;  and  once  satisfied, 
Ben  became  immediately  as  kind  and  patron- 
izing as  before. 

"  Now  we'll  have  a  turn  at  the  cards,  Joe ; 
and,  may  be,  you'll  have  the  luck  to  win  all 
back  again.  Where  will  you  go  to  stay  all 
night  ?" 

"  Camp  out,  or  sleep  in  the  mines.  It's 
warm  enough  there." 

"  Well,  I  know  of  a  place  where  we  can 
go  first.  Aunt  Peggy,  you  won't  lock  us 
out,  will  you  ?" 

The  woman,  who  appeared  to  have  taken 
no  notice  of  the  previous  conversation,  now 
answered,  sharply : 

"  Yes,  if  you  ain't  in  betimes.  And  the 
rest  of  you  youngsters  that  are  going  to  stay 
in,  must  be  right  off  to  bed.  I  want  room 
to  work  in ;  and  there  ain't  the  first  chance 
to  get  it  with  all  of  you  round  so." 

It  required  more  than  one  hint  of  this 
kind,  to  send  Robert  after  the  lads  who — the 
elder  ones  having  departed — followed  aunt 
Peggy's  advice  ;  one  by  one  climbing  the 


166  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

step-ladder,  and  disappearing  into  the  re 
gions  beyond.  The  dreadful  conversation 
he  had  listened  to— the  mockery  at  sin — the 
connivance  at  crime,  shown  by  Ben  and  his 
companions, — had  made  Robert  feel  more 
home-sick  than  he  had  yet  been  since  his 
mother's  death.  How  much  he  wished  that 
he  had  a  quiet  corner  to  himself,  where 
he  could  gather  up  a  few  precious  texts  out 
of  his  Bible,  to  comfort  him,  and  drive  the 
bad  thoughts  and  words  out  of  his  mind! 
But,  though  he  lingered,  he  was  too  timid  to 
ask ;  and  aunt  Peggy,  unused  to  having  her 
commands  disputed,  began,  at  last,  to  be 
quite  irritated  at  his  "  hanging  about  her," 
as  she  expressed  it,  and  bade  him,  very 
roughly,  follow  her,  and  she  would  show 
him  where  he  was  to  lodge. 

The  candle  having  been  set  on  the  topmost 
step  of  the  ladder,  Robert  saw,  by  its  light, 
that  the  room  or  loft,  into  which  he  was 
introduced,  was  covered  with  rows  of  beds 
laid  on  the  floor.  They  were  comfortable 
looking  and  neat ;  but  Robert  tyould  rather 


THE   DKIVER  BOY.  167 

have  had  his  made  of  the  fragrant  hay  or  even 
of  dry  leaves,  if  it  might  be  in  a  place  he 
could  call  his  own.  Must  he  kneel  down 
there  among  those,  who  profaned  the  name 
of  Grod,  and  attempt  to  pray  ?  For  a  moment 
the  temptation  came — "I  may  pray  after  I 
lie  down,  and  no  one  will  know  it ;"  but  con- 
science whispered — "  No  :  he  that  is  ashamed 
to  profess  Christ  here,  of  him  will  the  Son 
of  man  be  ashamed,  when  he  comes  to  judge 
the  world." 

So,  with  something  of  the  spirit  of  a  little 
martyr,  Kobert  bent  his  knees,  and  asked  God 
to  bless  him,  and  be  his  Father  always.  He 
did  not  forget  either  to  pray  for  his  poor 
wicked  companions,  although  all  the  time 
they  mocked  and  derided  him,  and  tried  by 
every  means  in  their  power  to  disturb  and 
vex  him.  It  was  no  wonder  that  Robert 
cried  himself  to  sleep,  on  that,  and  the  suc- 
ceeding night,  that  had  to  be  passed  before 
Sunday  came.  He  was  glad  that  the  day 
of  rest  was  so  near  ;  not  only  for  its  blessed 
associations  and  hallowed  employments,  but 


168 


LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 


because  he  felt  the  need  of  Christian  counsel 
and  advice,  more  than  he  had  done  any  time 
in  his  life  before ;  and  on  Sunday  he  should 
see  old  David. 


THE   DRIVEF    BOY.  169 


CHAPTER  IX. 

SUNDAY   AT   THE   MINES. — ROBERT  FINDS  WORK,  WHICH   IS 
LAWFUL  TO   DO    ON   THE   SABBATH   DAT. 

SUNDAY  was  a  bright  day  at  the  mines. 
Not  only  for  its  fair  skies,  unobscured  by  the 
thick,  black  smoke,  arising  from  the  various 
scenes  of  weekly  labour ;  not  alone  for  its 
balmy  airs,  unsmitten  by  the  discordant 
sounds  of  the  work  day  world  ;  but,  because 
the  absence  of  all  these  marked  it  so  em- 
phatically as  the  day  of  rest, — a  day  most 
welcome  to  the  hearts  of  the  weary  and  heavy 
laden  of  earth.  How  good  it  is,  that  when 
labour  was  assigned  to  man,  as  one  of  the 
fruits  of  his  disobedience,  and  it  was  said  to 
him :  <l  In  the  sweat  of  thy  brow,  thou  shalt 
eat  thy  bread,"  God  left  to  him  still  the  Eden 
rest, — that  portion  of  time  which  he  blessed 
and  sanctified  for  himself ! 

Bright,  also,  it  was  in  the  many  groups  that 
15 


170  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

thronged  the  public  ways :  not  they  alone, 
who  toiled  for  their  subsistence  on  the  earth's 
broad  surface,  but  the  dwellers  below — the 
denizens  of  its  caverns  and  depths — who, 
through  all  their  six  days'  labour  in  the  dark 
and  weary  mine,  looked  forward  to  the  Sab- 
bath rest,  as  to  a  bright  star  shining  in  its  dark- 
ness. How  many  in  that  vast  multitude  truly 
sanctified  the  day  in  their  hearts,  and  called  it 
"  a  delight,  the  holy  of  the  Lord,  honourable," 
and  honoured  him  in  it,  "  not  doing  their  own 
ways,  nor  finding  their  own  pleasure,  nor 
speaking  their  own  words,"  is  only  known  . 
to  Him,  who  is  the  Searcher  of  hearts.  But 
as  by  actions,  characters  are  weighed,  so  on 
the  present  occasion.  Not  all  the  steps,  that 
fell  that  morning,  tended  to  the  house  of  God. 
Some,  perverting  the  day  to  the  purposes 
of  bodily  rest  alone,  sought  a  place  where 
they  might  indolently  repose  from  the  week's 
hardships ;  others,  asserting  that  they  had  a 
right  to  employ  it  as  their  own,  chose  to 
spend  it  in  idle  and  profane  amusements. 
The  inmates  of  Peggy  Bright's  cabin  were 


THE  DRIVER  BOY.  171 

in  the  same  manner  divided,  as  to  their  mode 
of  disposing  of  the  day.  Ben  Waters  and 
some  others  of  the  older  lads,  having  laid 
their  plans  on  the  preceding  day,  set  off' 
early  on  a  fishing  excursion,  which  carried 
them  to  some  distance.  The  rest  hung  list- 
lessly around  the  house ;  some  throwing  peb- 
bles into  the  canal,  others  playing  games  at 
marbles  and  pitch- penny  with  each  other. 
Robert  had  heard,  that  morning,  that  there 
would  be  preaching  a  little  farther  down 
the  canal ;  and  having  acted  on  Joe's  sug- 
gestion of  keeping  his  best  suit  for  Sundays, 
he  was  ready  very  early  to  attend  it.  He 
lingered  for  a  few  moments  to  see  if  any 
of  the  boys  could  be  persuaded  to  accompany 
him,  and  was  surprised  to  find  that  little 
Joe  had  joined  their  party,  instead  of  that 
of  the  older  boys.  He  was  still  more  agreea- 
bly surprised  by  noticing  that  Joe  had  kept 
his  word,  and  really  put  on  the  decent  gar- 
ments that  the  blacksmith  had  given  him ; 
although,  at  the  same  time,  he  had  forgotten 
to  smooth  his  tangled  locks,  or  wash  the 


172  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

week's  dirt  from  his  face  and  hands.  But 
Kobert  felt  encouraged  by  even  this  partial 
observance  of  Sabbath  decorum;  and,  al- 
though he  had  hitherto  shunned  any  inti- 
macy with  the  vagrant  boy,  something  im- 
pelled him  to  address  him  on  this  occasion. 

"Why,  Joe,"  he  said,  "I  thought  you 
would  be  with  Ben  to  day." 

"  Ben  and  him  have  fell  out,  I  guess,"  said 
one  of  the  other  boys,  speaking  for  him,  "  I 
thought  they  were  too  thick  at  first  to  be 
friends  long." 

"  He  stole  my  money,  he  did,"  cried  Joe, 
with  a  fierce  look  ; — "I'll  kill  him." 

"  Hey !  stole  it  from  a  thief,"  said  the 
rest,  laughing. 

But  Eobert  did  not  laugh.  He  felt 
shocked  at  the  want  of  principle  shown  by 
his  companions. 

"  Oh !  don't  say  so,  Joe,"  he  plead  with  emo- 
tion ;  "  how  dreadful  wicked  it  is  to  talk  so ! 
And  all  of  you  boys,  do  try  to  be  good,  and 
leave  off  your  idle,  bad  ways.  One  evil  thing 
leads  to  another ;  and  if  you  don't  stop 


THE   DRIVER   BOY.  173 

breaking  the  Sabbath  as  you  are  doing  now, 
you  will  get  worse  and  worse,  and  may  be 
left  to  become  very  wicked  indeed." 

"  Why,  ain't  this  our  day  ?"  said  a  boy, 
coming  up  to  Robert  with  a  blustering  air; 
"  if  we  work  hard  all  the  week,  can't  we  do 
as  we  please  on  Sundays,  I'd  like  to  know?" 

"  No  indeed !  this  is  not  our  time — it  is 
God's.  He  does  give  it  to  us ;  but  it  is  to 
work  for  our  souls,  as  he  gives  us  all  the 
other  days  to  work  for  our  bodies.  Do  leave 
off  playing  now,  and  come  with  me  to  hear 
the  missionary  preach." 

"  Not  I,"  said  one  with  a  laugh  ;  "  you're 
preacher  enough  for  me;  I  don't  want  to  hear 
any  more  sermons  to-day." 

"  Look    at    my   worn-out    shoes !"   said 
another. 

"'And  my  ragged  elbows!"  cried  a  third. 

But  Joe  raised  himself  from  the  ground, 
where  he  had  been  all  this  time  employed  ia 
rolling  marbles  from  one  hand  to  the  other. 
There  was  an  earnest,  troubled  look  in  his 
usually  unresting  eyes,  as  he  gazed  into 

Robert's  face. 
15* 


174  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

"  I  will  go  with  you  to  the  preaching.'7 

"  You !"  cried  the  other  boys,  with  shouts 
of  laughter;  "Joe  Kough  going  to  meeting — 
that's  fun." 

"  Yes,  do  come,  Joe,"  said  Eobert ;  and 
afraid  that  the  boy  would  be  laughed  out  of 
his  good  resolution,  he  set  off  at  a  quick  pace 
for  the  point  to  which  he  saw  different 
groups  of  people  directing  their  steps,  and 
which  he  rightly  conjectured  to  be  the  place 
of  the  open  air  preaching.  He  looked  back 
from  time  to  time,  and  saw  that  Joe  was 
slowly  following,  though  sometimes  half 
drawn  back  by  his  companions'  derisive 
laughs  and  seductive  invitations.  Finding 
they  could  not  succeed  in  luring  him  back 
to  them,  they  at  length  determined  to  follow 
on,  and  see,  as  they  said,  whether  he  would 
really  go  to  meeting  or  not ;  and  forgetting 
their  plea  of  worn-out  garments,  they  were 
soon  mingled  with  the  crowd,  who  had 
gathered  at  one  of  the  locks,  to  hear  the  word 
of  God  preached  to  them. 

It  was  an  assemblage  full  of  interest.     The 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  175 

boats  were  crowded  with  people  ;  the  banks 
of  the  canal  one  mass  of  upturned  faces, 
showing  every  variety  of  countenance  and 
expression.  There  were  weather-beaten 
features  among  them,  both  of  men  and 
women  ;  and  some  of  the  latter  had  little 
babes  in  their  arms,  or  older  children  cling- 
ing to  their  garments.  Old  men  were  there 
too  ;  both  the  aged  sinner  "  laden  with  guilt 
and  full  of  fears,"  and  they  with  hoar  hair 
whom  God  had  not  cast  off  nor  forsaken 
when  strength  failed.  Among  these  Robert 
saw  his  friend  David  Frazer,  whom  he  re- 
cognized more  by  the  mode  in  which  he 
joined  in  his  favourite  devotion  of  singing} 
than  by  any  of  the  usual  marks;  for  so  much 
improved  was  the  old  man's  appearance  by 
his  nice  Sunday  garb,  and  the  absence  of  his 
usual  dusty  employment,  that  Robert  might 
have  failed  to  discover  him  in  any  other  way. 
He  looked  round  also  to  assure  himself  that 
Joe  was  indeed  present ;  and  finding  that  he 
had  ensconced  himself  behind  a  large  log, 
with  only  part  of  his  face  and  one  of  his 


176  LITTLE   BOB  TRILE, 

bright  eyes  visible,  he  gave  himself  up  to  the 
delight  of  being  once  more  permitted  to  at- 
tend the  worship  of  God.  And  truly  not  only 
in  temples  made  with  hands  is  God  to  be 
waited  on.  The  two  or  three  gathered  to- 
gether— the  rude  assemblage  of  the  unlettered 
— the  church  by  the  wayside, — may  be 
blessed  with  the  presence  of  Him,  who  taught 
the  multitude  by  the  shores  and  on  the  waters 
of  the  sea  of  Gennesaret — the  lake  of  the 
New  Testament. 

After  service  was  over,  the  missionary 
offered  tracts  and  little  books  to  those  who 
desired  to  have  them.  Kobert  was  very 
glad  to  secure  one  of  each  of  these ;  for  he 
was  fond  of  reading,  and  it  had  not  been  his 
lot  for  some  time  to  meet  with  any  proper 
food  for  this  mental  craving.  He  was  anxious 
too  that  the  other  boys  should  be  presented 
with  some ;  for,  although  he  knew  that  few 
of  them  could  read,  he  felt  that  they  would 
prize  the  gift  as  something  they  could  call 
their  own.  He  waited  to  see  that  his  wish 
was  gratified ;  and  that  each,  though  awkward 


THE   DKIVER  BOY.  177 

and  holding  back  at  first,  did  not  fail  to 
snatch  at  and  secure  a  tract  for  himself ;  and 
that  even  little  Joe  was  walking  up  the 
canal,  gazing  in  wonder  at  the  open  page 
which  he  held  in  his  hand.  Robert  then 
turned  to  accompany  his  friend  David,  who 
was  waiting  to  take  him  home  with  him. 

The  hut  of  the  old  miner — for  it  could  be 
called  little  else — was  a  rude  structure,  built 
on  the  side  of  a  hill,  and  scarcely  to  be  dis- 
tinguished from  it,  when  the  frosts  had 
turned  its  bright  covering  into  autumn's 
sober  brown.  But  small  as  it  was,  it  sufficed 
for  his  few  simple  wants  ;  and,  though  like 
the  prophet's  chamber  in  Shunem,  that 
contained  but  "a  bed,  and  a  table,  and  a 
stool,  and  a  candlestick,"  yet  it  was  often 
blessed  with  the  presence  of  Him,  who 
dwelleth  with  the  lowly  and  contrite  of 
heart. 

After  he  had  shared  his  frugal  dinner  with 
Robert,  David  placed  his  large-print  Bible 
on  the  window  seat,  where  the  afternoon 
sun  shone  brightly;  and  Robert,  who  had 


178  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE. 

brought  his  with  him,  took  a  seat  by  his 
side.  That  one  little  window  had  its  pecu- 
liar charm  of  running  vine,  and  scented 
blossoms  —  as  the  poorest  dwelling  may  ; 
but  it  looked  fairer,  as  framing  in  a  picture 
the  white-haired  man,  and  the  little  boy,  as 
together  they  searched  the  scriptures,  and 
increased  their  knowledge  of  holy  things. 

David,  at  last,  looked  up,  and,  folding  his 
glasses  together,  laid  them  between  the 
leaves  of  his  book.  He  saw  that  Robert, 
too,  had  left  off  reading,  and  was  gazing  out 
on  the  distant  hills,  but  as  one  whose 
thoughts  were  not  of  them. 

u  What  are  you  thinking  of  so  deeply, 
Robert  ?"  said  the  old  man,  laying  his  hand 
kindly  on  the  boy's  shoulder. 

Robert  looked  up  with  a  smile ;  but  the 
smile  faded  away  as  he  answered : 

"  I  was  thinking  whether  it  was  right  for 
me  to  stay  here." 

"Here  !" 

"  At  the  mines,  where  I  work,  and  among 
the  boys  I  live  with.  I  was  thinking,  sup- 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  179 

pose  I  should  get  to  steal,  and  tell  lies,  and 
take  God's  name  in  vain,  wouldn't  my  mo- 
ther be  sorry  ?" 

"  Your  mother,  Robert !     Is  she  living?" 

"  Oh  no !  or  I  wouldn't  be  here,  I  sup- 
pose. But  she  told  me  to  be  good,  and  try 
to  meet  her  in  heaven.  And  she  made  me 
promise  to  keep  out  of  the  company  of 
those  who  do  bad  things ;  and  now  I  am 
right  in  the  midst  of  them ;  and  maybe,  I 
shall  get  to  be  like  them.  Do  you  think  I 
ought  to  live  on  so  ?" 

Old  David  let  his  hand  fall  heavier  on 
Robert's  shoulder,  as  he  leaned  over  to  look 
out  a  text  in  his  Bible.  It  was  this : 

" — God  is  faithful,  who  will  not  suffer  you 
to  be  tempted  above  that  ye  are  able ;  but 
will,  with  the  temptation,  also  make  a  way 
to  escape,  that  ye  may  be  able  to  bear  it."  1 
Cor.  x.  13. 

"  It  is  often  the  purpose  of  God,"  contin- 
ued the  old  man,  "  to  place  his  children  on 
trial — within  the  fiery  furnace,  as  it  were — 
that  they  may  be  refined  and  purified,  as  the 


180  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

precious  gold.  If  they  were  never  in  cir- 
cumstances of  trial,  their  Christian  armour 
would  not  be  as  well  proved,  as  it  is  in 
times  of  need.  When  they  feel  most  their 
own  weakness,  then  are  they  strong  in  the 
Lord.  Yet  it  is  not  right  for  us  to  rush  into 
temptation ;  but  if  we  find  ourselves  placed 
in  it  by  the  special  dealings  of  God's  pro- 
vidence, we  may  be  sure  it  is  for  some  wise 
and  good  purpose.  Now  you  are  thrown 
into  the  midst  of  evil  company,  you  did  not 
seek  it — did  you  ?" 

"No,  indeed,  I  did  not.  I  tried  to  get 
work  at  all  the  farm-houses  as  I  came  along ; 
even  before  I  was  obliged  to  do  it  for  want 
of  money  and  clothes." 

"  And  God  led  you  here.  Now,  here,  per- 
haps, is  your  field  to  work  for  and  with  God. 
Wouldn't  that  be  an  honour  ? — to  work  with 
God  1" 

"With  God?" 

"  Yes,  here  it  is  in  2  Cor.  vi.  1 :  *  We  then, 
as  workers  together  with  him,  &c.' " 

"  But  that  means  ministers  and  grown-up 
people,  not  such  a  little  boy  as  I  am."  • 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  181 

"  How  do  you  know  that  ?  Did  you  ever 
see  the  great  engine,  moved  by  a  rushing 
torrent  ?  That  mighty  stream  was  formed 
by  little  rivulets,  trickling  from  the  far  off 
valleys,  or  by  still  smaller  rain  drops.  And 
that  giant  tree  out  there  was  once  a  little 
seed,  whhh  a  squirrel  might  have  destroyed  ; 
now  it  may  be  wrought  into  a  beautiful 
ship  to  carry  the  word  of  God  to  the 
heathen.  No  I  little  things  are  not  to  be 
despised." 

"But  what  can  I  do?"  said  Kobert,  earn- 
estly ;  "  I  can't  do  anything  that  I  know 
of." 

"  Oh,  don't  say  '  can't,'  Kobert ;  'can't'  never 
did  anything  yet.  Ask  God's  help,  and  then 
try.  And  now  tell  me,  how  came  there  to 
be  so  many  of  the  mine  boys  at  the  preach- 
ing to-day  ?  Were  any  of  them  among  your 
set  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  Kobert,  brightening  up ; 
"  a  good  many  of  them.     And  one  particu- 
larly, that   I  never   should    have   thought 
would  come." 
'.  '     16 


182  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

He  then  recounted  to  the  old  man,  the  in- 
cident of  the  morning,  and  how  glad  he  was 
that  the  missionary  had  given  the  little  books 
to  these  poor,  idle  boys. 

"  And  can  they  read  ?"  said  David. 

"  None  of  them,  scarcely,  and  Joe  not  at 
all.  I  don't  think  he  ever  had  a  book  in  his 
hand  before,  by  the  way  he  twisted  it  up  and 
down." 

"  Well  then,  Kobert,  here  is  a  talent  for 
you  to  improve.  You  can  read ;  read  to 
them,  and  teach  them  to  do  so  too." 

"  But  they  would  laugh  at  me  so ;  and  be- 
sides, call  me  'preacher,'  as  they  did  this 
morning." 

"  Don't  mind  their  laughing,  it  won't  hurt 
you  ;  and  as  to  being  called  *  preacher,'  you 
couldn't  be  called  by  a  better  name.  No, 
Eobert,  try  in  earnest  to  do  good,  and  God 
will  make  the  opportunities." 

"  But  there  is  another  thing  I  would  like 
to  ask  you  about,"  said  Eobert.  "  When  I 
see  them  all  doing  wrong,  and  hear  them 
talking  wickedly,  I  think  to  myself:  'I  am 


THE  DRIVER  BOY.  183 

not  so  bad  as  that ;  lying,  and  cursing,  and 
stealing ;'  and  I  am  afraid  I  will  get  proud, 
and  think  myself  better  than  I  am." 

"  Then  consider  who  made  you  to  differ. 
Naturally  your  heart  is  as  wicked  as  theirs; 
only  you  have  been  blessed  with  pious  pa- 
rents, with  a  good  home,  with  all  moral  and 
social  restraints.  Many  of  these  poor  boys 
have  known  nothing  else  but  vice  and  misery. 
They  have  never  been  in  the  company  of  the 
good  ;  and  they  but  follow  the  bent  of  their 
evil  and  perverted  natures.  Ask  God's 
grace  to  make  you  humble ;  and  when  you 
feel  lifted  up  on  account  of  your  having 
kept  out  of  vicious  ways,  think  what  you 
might  have  been,  had  he  taken  away  his  re- 
straining hand." 

Then  David  repeated  to  the  little  boy  this 
verse  of  a  favourite  hymn : 

"  Grace  led  my  roving  feet 

To  tread  the  heavenly  road  ; 
And  new  supplies  each  hour  I  meet, 
While  pressing  on  to  God." 

Afterwards  he  told  Kobert  that  the  shad- 


184  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

ows  were  getting  long,  and  he  had  better  bid 
him  goodbye.  As  he  shook  hands  with  the 
little  boy,  he  smilingly  reminded  him  to  "  be 
sure  and  look  out  for  his  work." 

His  work !  The  materials  were  gathered 
pretty  thickly  around  him,  as  he  passed 
through  different  groups  of  young  Sabbath- 
breakers,  on  his  way  ,to  his  lodgings.  His 
road  led  him  near  the  place  that  had  been 
the  scene  of  the  morning  preaching.  By  the 
same  log  which  had  sheltered  him  then,  sat 
the  little  outcast  Joe.  He  had  not  indeed 
wandered  very  far  from  it ;  returning  to  it 
again  and  again  as  to  a  spot  of  deep  interest. 
He  still  held  in  one  hand  the  little  tract 
which  he  had  received  from  the  missionary 
that  morning ;  and  with  a  piece  of  charcoal 
in  the  other  was  endeavouring,  as  he  told 
Robert,  "  to  make  the  thing  talk."  Eobert 
bent  over  the  page,  on  whose  margin  the 
little  wild  boy  was  tracing  some  rude  imita- 
tions of  words  and  letters. 

11  Who  made  us  to  differ  ?"  he  repeated  to 
himself  many  times. 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  185 

Now,  perhaps,  Kobert — for  he  was  by  no 
means  perfect — had  felt  that  there  was  a 
great  and  wide  difference  between  him  and 
poor,  ragged  Joe.  How  filthy  and  vile  he 
was  ! — and  something  of  the  Pharisee's  spirit 
of  self- commendation  had  sprung  up  in  his 
mind — "  nor  even  as  this  publican."  But 
what  had  been  said  to  him  about  God's  grace 
had  reached  his  heart ;  and  he  saw  that  he 
was  by  nature  just  as  worthless,  and  as 
much  a  child  of  wrath  as  he.  And  he  re- 
solved, by  God's  grace  and  help,  that  he 
would  try  to  do  something  for  the  little  ne- 
glected boy. 

"  Will  it  say  that  again — what  the  man 
said  ?"  asked  Joe,  as  Robert  sat  down  on 
the  log  at  his  side. 

"  What  did  he  say,  Joe  ?" 

"  Christ  Jesus — wasn't  it  ? — coming  to — I 
forget  the  rest." 

"  '  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save 
sinners,  of  whom  I  am  chief.'  Was  that 
it?" 

**  Yes,"  said  Joe,  with  a  flash  of  light  in 


186  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

his  quick  eyes ;  "  of  whom  I  am  chief." 
And  this  he  repeated  again  and  again,  as  if 
conning  a  lesson. 

Kobert  also  read  the  whole  sentence 
slowly  to  him  a  number  of  times,  so  that  it 
might  be  impressed  on  his  memory  ;  and 
then,  knowing  that  the  poor  boy  was  very 
ignorant,  he  began  to  tell  him  about  the  pre- 
cious Saviour  of  sinners.  He  showed  him 
that  sin  is  very  hateful  in  the  sight  of  God, 
and  that  its  penalty  is  death  to  both  body 
and  soul;  that  when  all  mankind  were 
ruined  by  the  fall,  God  in  his  great  mercy 
provided  a  way  of  salvation  by  a  Eedeemer. 
He  tried  to  put  these  ideas  in  very  simple 
language ;  but  when  he  left  off  talking,  he 
was  not  sure  whether  Joe  had  heard  him  or 
not ;  for  though  he  looked  up  once  or  twice, 
he  made  no  answers  to  his  questions,  nor 
gave  any  sign  that  he  was  listening.  But 
when  Robert  left  him,  and  continued  his 
walk  homeward,  he  still  heard  him  repeating 
:he  words :  "  Of  whom  I  am  chief." 

"  And  now,"  thought  Robert,  as  he  came 


THE   DRIVER    BOY.  187 

near  to  the  cabin,  "  if  I  can  only  get  aunt 
Peggy  to  let  me  sit  up  at  nights  and  read, 
and  sometimes  read  the  Bible  and  other  good 
books  to  her  and  the  boys,  I  think  I  shall 
feel  better  about  staying.  But  I  must  do  as 
David  told  me — try." 

And  Robert  did  try,  although  he  found 
aunt  Peggy  in  not  the  best  of  humours  to 
begin  with.  She  had  been  visiting  an  ac- 
quaintance at  some  distance ;  and  having 
overstayed  her  time,  was  vexed  to  find,  on 
her  return,  that  the  fire  had  died  out,  and 
her  preparations  for  supper  must  be  com- 
menced in  a  hurry.  The  boys  were  clam- 
orous, and  in  her  way  ;  all  things  went 
wrong.  But  Robert,  who  had  been  used  to 
help  his  mother  about  household  matters, 
gave  such  quiet  yet  efficient  assistance ; — 
he  let  into  the  fire  just  so  much  air  as  was 
requisite  and  no  more, — hung  on  the  kettle 
at  the  most  exact  angle,  so  that  it  should 
not  tilt  over,  and  took  it  off  when  it  began 
to  boil  over — and  set  the  table  with  as 
much  nicety  as  aunt  Peggy  herself. 


188  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

"  And  now  you're  up  to  something,  I  know,'1 
said  aunt  Peggy  ;  yet  at  the  same  time  more 
good-huxnouredly  than  before.  "I  don't  sup- 
pose you  are  helping  me  for  nothing.  What 
is  it  you  do  want  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  want  something,  aunt  Peggy," 
said  Eobert,  pleasantly,  "but  it  won't  be  much 
trouble  to  you.  Now  that  it  is  Sunday 
night,  and  you  have  no  more  work  to  do 
after  supper,  won't  you  let  me  read  a  little 
to  you  and  the  boys  before  I  go  to  bed? 
The  missionary  gave  us  good  books  this 
morning,  and  I  think  you  will  like  to  hear 
them.  You  said  last  night  that  you  couldn't 
read,  and  I  know  that  very  few  of  the  boys 
can." 

"  Well,  you  are  a  queer  little  fellow,"  said 
the  woman,  turning  to  look  at  him,  as  she 
set  a  pan  of  sliced  meat  to  broil  on  the  now 
finely  glowing  coals  ;  "  what  odds  is  it  to 
you,  whether  we  can  read  or  not?  Eeading 
don't  cook  the  victuals,  nor  clean  the  house, 
nor  put  clothes  on  our  backs — does  it  ?" 

"  But  if  we  can  read,  aunt  Peggy,  it  fills 


THE  DRIVER  BOY.  189 

up  the  time  that  would  otherwise  be  spent  in 
idleness,  or,  what  is  worse,  in  wickedness. 
Now  if  the  boys  could  read,  wouldn't  it  be 
better  for  them  to  have  their  books  at  night, 
than  to  go  out  to  get  in  bad  company  and 
play  cards?" 

"  Then  I  should  have  them  hanging  about 
here — No !  I  wouldn't  like  that  at  all." 

And  aunt  Peggy  gave  an  energetic  twitch 
to  her  meat,  as  if,  with  the  turn  of  her  fork, 
she  would  give  vent  to  her  displeasure. 

Eobert  stood  looking  thoughtfully  into 
the  fire.  He  would  have  liked  to  re- 
mind aunt  Peggy  that  her  lodgers  had 
souls  as  well  as  bodies;  and  that  having 
taken  the  care  of  the  one,  she  was  in  some 
sort  answerable  for  the  welfare  of  the  other. 
He  wished,  too,  that  he  could  convince  her, 
that  in  proportion  as  their  minds  were  in- 
formed, the  behaviour  of  her  inmates  would 
improve;  and  she  would  no  longer  have 
such  a  turbulent,  noisy  crew  to  deal  with. 
But  he  did  not  dare  to  press  the  matter  any 
further ;  perhaps  the  ideas  did  not  very 


190  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

clearly  arrange  themselves  in  words  in  his 
own  mind, — but  they  made  him  feel  sad,  as 
he  stood  in  the  chimney  corner,  and  watched 
aunt  Peggy  as  she  bustled  about.  Inhere 
was  something  so  very  gentle  and  touching 
in  his  downcast  face,  that  she  herself  could 
not  long  resist  it ;  and  her  slignt  fit  of  anger 
passed  away,  like  the  mist  of  the  morning 
before  the  rising  sun. 

"  Well,  I'll  see  about  it  after  supper,"  she 
finally  said  ;  "  any  how  it  won't  do  any  harm 
to  try  it  once." 

Once  tried,  the  plan  worked  well.  The 
narrative  tracts  and  books  had  been  well 
chosen  to  interest  just  such  aa  audience; 
the  gospel  invitations  and  threatenings  were 
addressed  to  ears  and  hearts,  that  had  long 
been  closed  against,  or  never  before  opened 
to  the  truth.  After  the  first  night,  aunt 
Peggy  herself  made  preparations  to  have 
the  reading  become  permanent.  It  was  no 
trouble  to  her  now  to  clear  off  a  space  on  her 
ample  table,  large  enough  for  Eobert  to  oc- 
cupy with  his  book ;  while  the  boys  could 


THE   DKIVER  BOY.  191 

be  disposed  of  in  corners,  or  on  the  steps  of 
the  ladder,  or  even  in  the  loft  above  it. 
"  They  could  hear  as  well  there  as  not,"  she 
said  ;  "  and  it  was  better  at  any  rate  than  the 
idle  and  worse  talk  they  used  to  have  after 
they  went  to  bed ;  for  if  she  did  put  out  the 
candle,  she  couldn't  stop  their  tongues.  And 
as  to  herself — why,  her  ironing  went  on 
twice  as  fast,  while  she  was  listening  to  the 
reading  ;  it*  kept  her  from  thinking." 

Yes,  but  it  made  aunt  Peggy  think  too. 
Thoughts  and  convictions  of  her  own  sinful 
nature — of  her  actual  guilt  in  the  sight  of 
God — of  her  need  of  just  such  a  Saviour  as 
the  gospel  offers — thoughts  of  death,  judg- 
ment, and  a  never  ending  futurity, — pressed 
weightily  on  her  mind.  The  fruits  of  these 
were  evidenced  in  her  beginning  steadily  to 
wait  on  the  means  of  grace.  She  had  ne- 
glected the  house  of  God  before;  she  now 
became  a  constant  attendant  there.  Now,.too, 
she  listened  with  intense  eagerness  to  the 
Bible  reading;  and  at  last  brought  herself  to 
ask  Robert,  if  he  thought  one  so  old  as  she 


192  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

was  could  learn  to  read  ;  and  if  so,  whether 
he  would  teach  her. 

Kobert  would  like  nothing  better.  He  had 
wanted  to  begin  this  with  some  of  the  most 
promising  of  the  boys  ;  and,  now  that  aunt 
Peggy  was  of  the  same  rnind,  there  would  be 
nothing  to  hinder.  Part  of  the  time  was 
therefore  devoted  to  giving  lessons,  besides 
the  regular  reading  itself.  He  now  felt  much 
encouraged  ;  for  the  boys  really  made  great 
improvement,  both  in  manners  and  morals. 
Some  of  the  most  disorderly — among  whom 
were  Ben  Waters  and  his  set — chose  to 
leave,  very  soon  after  the  new  order  of  things 
was  established.  But  all  pecuniary  loss 
to  aunt  Peggy  was  more  than  made  up 
by  the  alteration  produced  in  those  that 
remained ;  and  as  her  house  soon  became  as 
noted  for  the  good  behaviour  of  its  inmates, 
as  for  the  cleanliness  and  nice  management 
of  its  mistress,  many  of  the  sober  and  well- 
disposed  lads  in  the  neighbourhood  took  up 
their  abode  there. 

There  was  only  one  thing  that  troubled 


THE    DRIVER  BOY.  193 

Kobert.  In  all  these  plans  the  poor  little 
outcast  Joe  was  not  included.  Working  at 
the  mines  all  day,  left  little  time  to  give  to 
any  employment  not  in  the  range  of  its 
d  uties  ;  and  he  was  sorry  to  find  that,  on 
Sundays,  Ben  Waters,  having  made  up  his 
quarrel  with  Joe,  always  contrived  to  take 
him  off  to  some  distant  place,  where  there 
was  small  chance  of  his  meeting  with  any- 
thing good.  And  as  to  the  evening  readings 
— had  not  aunt  Peggy  resolutely  opposed  his 
setting  a  foot  within  her  doors?  But  on 
consulting  with  David,  whom  he  still  con- 
tinued to  visit,  the  old  man  significantly  re- 
marked as  before — "Try."  And  Robert 
again  resolved  that  he  would  try. 
17 


194  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 


CHAPTER  X. 

ROBERT'S  ILLNESS  AND  RECOVERY.  —HE  BECOMES  A  DRIVER 
BOY. 

BUT  before  any  definite  plan  could  be 
formed — before  even  the  first  early  snow  fell 
— Robert  became  extremely  ill;  and  many 
weeks  passed  before  the  fever  of  delirium  left 
him,  to  become  conscious  how  very  sick  he 
had  been.  It  was  quite  an  event  to  him,  this 
slow  return  to  life ;  and  he  often  associated 
with  it  afterwards  the  very  scenes  that  sur- 
rounded him  then. 

At  that  time  only  he  realized  that  he  had 
been  sick ;  for  the  long  interval  had  passed 
away  like  a  troubled  dream.  He  did  not 
know  how  very  anxious  aunt  Peggy  had  been 
about  him ;  how  she  had  watched  and  tended 
him  like  a  mother ;  and  how  the  many  friends 
whom  God  had  raised  up  to  take  an  interest 
in  him,  an  orphan  boy,  had  come  and  sat  by 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  195 

him,  and  sorrowed  as  they  thought  that  he 
was  about  to  leave  them.  He  only  felt  that 
he  was  very  weak  and  helpless  ;  wondered,  as 
his  head  sunk  back  on  his  pillow,  what  had 
happened  to  make  it  do  so  ;  and  why,  instead 
of  his  usual  place  in  the  loft,  he  was  lying 
on  aunt  Peggy's  bed,  while  she  herself  had 
been  the  occupant  of  a  shakedown  by  his 
side. 

The  calico  curtain  was  thrown  up  to  give 
him  air,  and  he  had  a  full  view  of  the  fire- 
place in  front  of  it.  From  it  came  the  only 
light  that  filled  the  apartment,  for  the  short- 
lived sunbeams  of  a  wintry  day  were  fast 
fading  out;  but  that  one  light  served  to 
make  the  objects  within  its  reach  more  clearly 
defined.  Among  these  was  aunt  Peggy,  her 
head  and  shoulders  indeed  concealed  from 
view,  as  she  stood  partly  within  the  chimney ; 
bat  a  shower  of  snowy  feathers  descending 
all  around  her,  revealed  her  position  and  oc- 
cupation. On  a  low  seat  before  the  fire  sat 
a  man,  whose  tall  form  and  unusually  stout 
proportions  seemed  familiar  to  Robert ;  but 


10 O  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

bis  face  being  turned  from  him,  he  could  not 
be  sure  that  he  knew  him.  Aunt  Peggy's 
tongue  was  moving  as  fast  as  her  fingers. 

"  Yes,  it's  for  the  dear  child,"  she  was 
saying.  "  The  doctor  thinks  he  will  wake 
almost  well  from  that  long  sleep,  and  will 
need  nothing  but  nourishing  food  and  care 
to  bring  him  round  again.  And  so  I  am 
getting  my  last  chicken  ready,  to  make  him 
some  broth.  To  be  sure  I  have  petted  the 
little  thing ;  but  what  do  I  care  for  that,  if  it 
will  make  my  poor  boy  any  better  ?" 

The  man  made  some  reply,  but  Robert  did 
not  hear  the  words  distinctly.  Only  as  he 
turned  his  head,  he  remembered — it  was  his 
friend  the  blacksmith. 

"  James  Groves ! — aunt  Peggy  !"  feebly 
called  the  sick  boy ;  and  in  a  moment  they 
were  both  at  his  side  ;  aunt  Peggy,  in  her  joy 
and  surprise,  dashing  the  chicken  from  her, 
in  most  dangerous  proximity  to  her  other 
favourite,  the  cat. 

"Why,  Robert,"  said  the  blacksmith,  as 
he  stood  by  the  bed,  holding  Robert's  little 


THE   DRIVER   BOY.  197 

fingers  within  the  clasp  of  his  broad,  hard 
hand ;  "  I  was  afraid  you  were  going  to  leave 
us  like  little  Jimmy." 

"  Is  Jimmy  dead  ?"  asked  Bobert,  with 
that  thrill  of  awe,  which  all  naturally  feel, 
when  they  hear  that  those  they  loved  or 
knew  of  have  passed  away. 

"  Yes  ;  dead  a  month  and  more.  He  just 
grew  weaker  and  weaker  every  day.  And 
when  I  saw  him  lying  there  so  pale  and 
happy,  and  then  came  here,  and  thought  that 
you  were  going  too,  I  wished  I  were  sure 
of  being  in  heaven  with  you  both.  And  I 
feel  now  as  if  I  would  like  to  learn  the  way 
there,  old  as  I  am." 

"  Oh,  I  wish  you  would,  James !  Oh,  how 
I  wish  you  would  !"  said  Kobert,  with  emo- 
tion. He  could  say  no  more,  however,  for 
he  was  still  very  weak ;  but  he  pressed  his 
friend's  hand,  and  looked  up,  as  if  pointing 
Kim  to  the  source  of  all  light  and  know- 
ledge. 

And  now  aunt  Peggy  put  in  her  word. 
"  She  would  not  let  him  talk,"  she  said,  "  but 
17* 


198  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

she  would  talk  to  him."  And  so  she  told 
him  how  old  David  had  spent  hours  and 
hours  by  his  bed-side — how  the  missionary 
had  come  and  prayed  by  him,  when  he  was 
too  ill  to  talk — that  the  boys  had  been  so 
good  and  quiet,  for  fear  of  disturbing  him — 
and  that  even  poor  Joe  had  come  many  times 
to  inquire  how  he  got  on. 

"  And  didn't  you  let  him  come  in  ?  Oh! 
aunt  Peggy." 

"  Well,  I  did  let  him  once  put  his  head 
in.  He  had  brought  some  apples  for  you, 
and  I  was  proper  glad,  for  they  were  so 
scarce ;  but  I  washed  them  well,  I  tell  you, 
before  I  roasted  them  for  your  drink." 

"  Aunt  Peggy,  I  want  you  to  promise  me 
one  thing,"  said  Kobert,  earnestly  ;  "let  Joe 
in  when  he  comes  again.  I  want  to  see 
him." 

But  aunt  Peggy,  like  some  others  of  Eob- 
ert's  acquaintance,  was  considerably  set  on 
having  her  own  way;  and  though  she  had 
materially  changed,  yet  sometimes  the  old 
nature  rebelled. 


THE  DKIVER  BOY.  199 

"Aunt  Peggy,"  continued  Robert,,  "do 
you  remember  about  our  Saviour,  how  he 
sat  down  and  ate  bread  with  the  publicans 
and  sinners?  And  those  were  the  very 
ones  to  press  into  the  kingdom  first.  Ought 
we  not  to  do  like  the  Saviour  ?" 

"Well,  to  be  sure,  child,  so  we  ought. 
And  you  have  such  a  way  with  you,  Robert, 
I  never  can  say  '  No  '  to  you.  So  I'll  see 
about  it." 

This  "  see  about  it "  was  always  aunt  Peg- 
gy's way  of  ending  a  difficulty  ;  and  being 
equivalent  to  a  permission,  it  usually  ended 
the  discussion.  But  it  was  not  needed  at 
this  time,  for  little  Joe  came  no  more  to  en- 
quire for  the  sick  boy ;  and  it  was  soon 
known  that  he  had  left  the  neighbourhood, 
a  lad  of  his  description  having  been  met 
with  at  some  distance  up  the  mining  coun- 
try. 

It  was  still  some  weeks  before  Robert's 
recovery  was  quite  completed ;  and  even 
then  it  could  scarcely  be  called  so,  for  the 
want  of  fresh  air  and  healthful  exercise. 


200  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

Besides,  the  thought  of  his  being  in  the 
same  position  that  he  was  before  his  illness 
— and  even  worse,  for  now  he  was  not  only 
in  debt,  but  unable  to  earn  his  living  as  be- 
fore— made  him  feel  sadly  troubled.  He  was 
now  further  off  than  ever  from  a  probability 
of  being  able  to  set  off  to  find  his  friend, 
Mr.  Hallam.  For  although  he  knew  that 
both  the  blacksmith  and  aunt  Peggy  were 
kind  to  him,  and  would  not  be  hard  credi- 
tors, yet  he  could  never  think  of  leaving 
them,  without  paying  them  their  just  dues; 
and  to  do  so  would,  he  knew,  consume  a  great 
deal  of  valuable  time,  which  he  had  hoped 
to  employ  in  educating  himself  for  some 
useful  business  in  life. 

"But  there  is  no  help  for  it,  and  so  I 
must  just  go  back  again  to  the  mines,"  said 
Eobert,  with  a  half  smile  and  a  patient  sigh 
at  the  end  of  his  long  train  of  thought ;  "  and 
God  will  take  care  of  me,  and  perhaps  make 
me  useful  even  there." 

But  aunt  Peggy  would  not  hear  of  his 
doing  so.  "  It  was  the  coal  dust  that  made 


THE   DKIVER   BOY.  201 

him  cough  so,  she  was  sure,"  she  said  ;  "  he 
must  wait  a  little  longer ;  something  else 
would  turn  up." 

What  this  something  else  was  soon  showed 
itself.  It  was  now  early  spring,  and  the 
boating  season  had  just  commenced.  In  plea- 
sant warm  days,  Eobert  could  sit  at  the  open 
door,  and  watch  the  tide  of  busy  life  on  the 
canal.  This  was  very  interesting  to  him  ; 
for  there  is  always  in  the  sight  of  motion 
and  energy,  a  charm,  which  will  impart  a 
corresponding  tone  to  the  most  sluggish  na- 
ture. Not  that  Robert  was  idle ;  for  while 
his  eyes  often  sought  the  active  scenes  around 
him,  he  employed  his  hands  in  fashioning 
mats  of  braided  straw,  for  aunt  Peggy  to 
dispose  of  for  him, — the  only  way  the  two 
could  devise  for  him  to  gain  his  living,  now 
that  he  was  deprived  of  any  other  means 
of  doing  so.  She  herself,  as  the  weather  was 
fine,  and  her  dwelling  rather  narrow  in  its 
limits,  had  taken  her  work  out  of  doors, 
where  she  could  see  and  be  seen  at  the  same 
time.  As  her  acquaintances  were  numerous. 


202  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

Robert  was  not  surprised  to  hear  her  ex- 
changing salutations  with  one  and  another  pas- 
ser by ;  but  there  was  something  in  the  deport- 
ment and  conversation  of  one  stranger  that 
particularly  attracted  his  attention.  This 
was  a  man  of  middle  age,  partly  dressed  as  a 
sailor,  and  partly  as  a  landsman  j.with  a  rough 
exterior  that  showed  an  intimate  acquaintance 
with  the  hardships  of  life.  He  had  a  team 
of  horses  with  him,  which,  as  he  stopped, 
rubbed  their  heads  familiarly  against  the 
walls  of  aunt  Peggy's  Dwelling ;  so  near  to 
Robert  that  he  longed  to  touch  them,  as  he 
remembered,  his  old  pleasant  exercise  of 
riding  and  taking  care  of  the  noble  animals. 
How  his  heart  beat,  as  he  heard  the  man 
ask  aunt  Peggy  whether  she  knew  of  any 
boys  that  could  drive  horses  for  him !  for 
he  was  the  captain  of  a  canal  boat,  and 
wanted  lads  for  that  service  for  the  coming 
season. 

"  Why,  here  is  little  Bob  True,"  said  aunt 
Peggy;  "it's  the  very  thing  for  him.  He's 
been  sick ;  and  that's  what  will  just  do  him 
good." 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  203 

"Seems  to  me  he  is  little,"  said  the  man, 
looking  at  Kobert.  "  Can  you  reach  up  to 
a  horse's  head,  my  boy  ?" 

"  0  yes,"  said  Kobert,  with  a  smile ;  "  I 
could  do  that,  and  take  care  of  horses  most 
a  year  ago." 

"  How  old  are  you  ?" 

"  Eleven — past." 

"  Well  I  like  the  looks  of  you;  and  so, 
if  you  like  mine,  it's  a  bargain.  I've  hired 
a  couple  of  lads  besides  for  two  other  boats. 
One  I  met  a  matter  of  twenty  miles  up  the 
country,  where  I  went  to  buy  horses.  He  is 
an  odd,  cunning-looking  fellow  with  a  great 
curly  dog." 

"  That  was  Joe  Rough,  I  suppose,"  said 
aunt  Peggy,  "  I  don't  think  you'll  make  much 
of  him." 

"  And  I've  got  another  here  at  the  mines 
— rather  indifferent  looking  too,  but  we 
can't  be  so  very  particular.  His  name  is 
Ben  Waters." 

"  Yes,  he  was  one  of  my  boarders,"  said 
aunt  Peggy,  "  Well,  you  have  a  variety — 


204  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

good,  bad,  and  indifferent.  I'll  answer  for 
the  good." 

"  Well,"  said  the  man,  laughing,  "  what 
does  this  little  fellow  say  ?  Is  he  going 
with  me,  or  not  ?" 

"  I  should  like  to  go  very  much,"  said 
Robert;  "for  oh!"  he  thought,  "  the  canal 
will  take  me  right  to  the  very  place  where 
Mr.  Hallam  is.  But  how  can  I  go  away  from 
here  in  debt  ?" 

"  Well  ?"  said  the  man  again,  as  he 
watched  Robert's  troubled  face. 

"  I  can't  go,"  said  Robert,  decidedly. 
"  When  I  came  here  I  owed  the  blacksmith 
for  my  clothes  ;  and  I  hadn't  earned  enough 
to  pay  for  them  and  my  board  too,  when  I 
got  sick.  Now  I  owe  the  doctor,  and  for 
all  my  time  here  beside ;  and — but  I  never 
can  pay  for  aunt  Peggy's  kindness  in  nurs- 
ing and  taking  care  of  me." 

"  But  you  won't  be  running  away,  if  you 
do  go  with  me,"  urged  the  boatman;  "I'll 
see  you  don't." 

Aunt  Peggy  also  exclaimed  and  insisted  ; 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  205 

but  Eobert  was  quite  firm  in  thinking  that 
it  would  not  be  right  for  him  to  leave  the 
neighbourhood,  without  fulfilling  his  origi- 
nal obligations 

"  Now  see  here,"  said  the  man,  taking  out 
a  large  pocket-book ;  "  I'll  settle  the  matter. 
Suppose  I  pay  aunt  Peggy  and  the  rest ; — 
then  you'll  only  be  in  debt  to  me.  What  do 
you  say  ?" 

"  How  much  will  you  pay  me  a  month  ?" 

"  That's  right,"  said  the  man  ;  "  I  see  you 
are  a  business  character.  Well,  for  such  a 
little  boy  as  you  are,  I  suppose  about  five 
dollars  a  month,  if  I  board  you." 

"That  will  be  forty -five  dollars  for  the 
nine  months.  I  have  been  here  over  six 
months,  and  I  owe  for  four  months'  board 
and  washing  ; — that  will  be  twenty-two  dol- 
lars. The  doctor  said,  as  I  was  a  poor  boy, 
he  would  let  me  off  with  five ;  and  I  owe 
three  dollars  for  my  clothes ; — that  will 
make  it  thirty  dollars,  and  will  leave  me,  at 
the  end  of  the  time,  fifteen  dollars  for  my- 
self. If  you  pay  me  all  now,  1  shall  be  six 

months  in  your  debt." 
18 


206  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

"  Why,  you  are  quite  a  scholar,"  said  the 
boatman,  pleasantly.  "  Well,  I  intend  to 
pay  it  all  now,  and  then  you  will  belong  to 
me.  It's  not  every  strange  boy  I  would 
trust  so ;  but  if  you  haven't  honesty  written 
out  fair  in  your  face,  why  then  I'm  mis- 
taken." 

And  thus  the  important  affair  was  set- 
tled that  made  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE  A  DRIVER 

BOY. 


THE   DRIVER    BOY.  207 


CHAPTER  XI. 

LIFE   ON    THE   CANAL. 

As  there  are  comparatively  but  few  inci- 
dents in  the  experience  of  a  driver  boy,  I 
have  chosen  to  tell  you  more  of  Eobert's 
history  before,  thfin  after  he  began  to  be  one 
of  that  class.  Not  that  his  life  in  it  afforded 
no  variety,  for,  imprisoned  as  he  had  been 
for  so  many  months  within  the  walls  of  the 
little  cabin  on  land,  the  very  breath  of  the 
fresh  air  as  it  touched  his  cheek  was  a  plea- 
sure to  him  ;  and  the  fine  exercise  of  riding 
the  horses  soon  brought  back  to  those  cheeks 
the  colour  of  which  sickness  had  deprived 
them.  Then  the  cheerful  sounds  that  reached 
him  from  every  point — the  novelty  of  seeing 
the  boats  loaded  at  the  wharves  by  the  sluice- 
gates, which  poured  a  continuous  stream  of 
coal  from  the  railroad  to  the  canal — the 
songs  and  wild  shouts  of  the  boatmen,  as 


208  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

they  steered  their  barges  clear  of  each  other, 
or  rounded  to  their  landing  places — the 
greetings  of  the  lads  as  they  met — and  last 
but  not  least,  for  our  little  boy  was  an  ar- 
dent admirer  of  the  beautiful  in  nature,  the 
charming  scenery  on  the  banks  of  the  river, 
all  joined  to  make  him  contented  with  the 
change  of  his  occupation.  The  warm  spring 
weather  had  already  clothed  many  of  the 
more  hardy  trees  with  a  rich  garment  of 
beauty  ;  and  to  their  leafy  covert  resorted  the 
little  warblers,  who  had,  during  the  stormy 
winter  months,  been  "  companions  of  the 
spring"  in  the  sunny  regions  of  the  south. 
As  a  drawback  to  these  pleasant  things, 
Kobert  was  often  obliged  to  listen  to  the 
dreadful  oaths  and  profane  jests,  with  which 
some  of  the  boatmen  mingled  their  discourse, 
but  he  tried  hard  not  to  hear  them  ;  and  in 
order  that  he  might  not,  he  had  a  very  good 
plan,  which  it  would  be  worth  while  for  those 
who  are  in  similar  circumstances  to  adopt. 
This  was  to  have  a  text  of  scripture  or  verse 
of  a  hymn  in  his  mird,  whenever  he  com- 


THE    DRIVER  BOY.  209 

menced  his  daily  route  ;  and  he  often  turned 
these  into  a  prayer  for  strength  and  guidance 
in  his  peculiar  trials  and  temptations.  So, 
if  he  increased  but  little  his  store  of  this 
world's  wealth,  the  word  of  God  became  a 
rich  treasury  to  him,  from  which  he  drew 
supplies  of  the  heavenly  wisdom  that  comes 
from  above. 

Besides,  the  weather  was  not  always  clear 
and  bright.  Chilly  rains  and  stormy  winds 
often  made  his  little  fingers  blue  with  cold, 
as  they  kept  with  difficulty  their  hold  on 
the  bridles  of  his  horses ;  and  not  unfre- 
quently,  when  the  day's  travel  was  over,  he 
had  to  thaw  the  icicles  from  his  cap  and  hair; 
for  winter  sometimes  set  his  iron  footsteps 
again  on  the  earth,  when  spring  had  in  reality 
commenced.  But  little  Robert  had  fallen 
into  good  hands.  His  captain  was  not  hard 
with  his  boys, — as  many  of  his  companions 
said  their  employers  were ;  and,  although  he 
had  already  done  so  much  for  him  in  ad- 
vancing money  to  pay  his  debts,  he  did  not 
think  he  was  thereby  released  from  any  ob- 
18* 


210  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

ligation  to  provide  for  his  real  wants.  So, 
finding  that  Kobert's  clothing  was  insuffi- 
cient for  the  changing  weather,  he  bought 
for  him  at  the  first  opportunity  a  good,  warm, 
rough  jacket,  and  a  little  tarpaulin  hat  like 
his  own  ; — telling  him,  good-humouredly,  in 
reply  to  Robert's  remonstrances  and  fears 
of  being  again  in  debt,  that  he  belonged  to 
him  now,  and  it  was  his  business  to  take  care 
that  his  property  was  not  injured. 

So,  as  there  were  more  sunny  days  than 
stormy,  there  were  also  more  advantages 
than  hardships  in  Robert's  new  mode  of  life- 
He  was  less  frequently  thrown  into  mixed 
company  than  he  had  been  at  the  mines ;  for 
his  captain  preferred  lodging  and  boarding 
on  his  own  boat,  rather  than  trusting  to  the 
questionable  accommodations  of  the  shanty- 
keepers  on  their  route.  It  often  happened, 
therefore,  that  whole  da^s  passed  away  with- 
out Robert  having  met  any  one  to  exchange 
a  word  with;  and  if  the  track  lay  through 
quiet  and  beautiful  scenery,  he  was  well 
pleased  to  ha\  e  it  so — finding  companionship 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  211 

in  the  open  book  of  nature,  or  in  the  pre- 
cious thoughts  which  it  inspired  of  a  brighter 
world  above. 

Then  he  had  his  day  dreams  too,  and  his 
plans  for  the  future.  How  often  he  counted 
over  in  his  own  mind  the  sum  that  was  to  be 
his,  when  his  employer's  claims  should  be 
satisfied  ;  and  thought  how  far  it  would  go 
in  placing  him  in  a  situation,  where  he  could 
acquire  the  knowledge  he  thirsted  for !  How 
often  he  looked  along  the  smooth  narrow 
•  path  that  his  horses'  feet  so  patiently  trod, 
and  fancied  the  great  city  at  the  end  of  it — 
that  city,  the  goal  of  his  dearest  wishes,  where 
Mr,.  Hallam  resided !  Would  he  be  permitted 
to  go  in  search  of  him  the  first  time  he 
reached  it?  Oh!  if  he  only  could,  and  see  him 
once  more !  But  he  was  afraid  the  captain 
would  not  permit  it. 

He  wanted  very  much  to  ask  him  ;  but  he 
was  too  busy  in  the  daytime,  and  at  night 
when  the  work  was  over,  the  horses  properly 
attended  to,  and  the  nice  supper,  which  they 
themselves  prepared,  partaken  of  with  sharp- 


212  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

ened  appetites,  the  little  cabin  was  often  left 
untenanted  except  by  Robert ;  for  the  captain 
had  concerns  of  his  own  to  attend  to,  he  said, 
and  no  other  time  to  bestow  on  them.  What 
these  concerns  were,  Robert  never  ventured 
to  inquire ;  but  the  leisure,  which  to  many 
boys  in  the  same  circumstances  would  have 
been  a  dangerous  permission,  was  improved 
to  the  utmost  advantage.  Such  books  as  he 
had  of  his  own  he  had  brought  with  him  ; 
and  when  he  had  almost  learned  these  by 
heart,  his  employer  produced  some  from  his 
own  store. 

There  were  several  small  boxes  made  fast 
to  the  cabin  floor,  which,  as  its  limits  were 
not  greatly  extended,  served  also  for  seats. 
The  captain  called  these  "  lockers ;"  for,  having 
been  a  sailor  in  his  youthful  days,  he  retained 
some  of  his  nautical  phrases.  One  he  had 
appropriated  to  Robert's  use  as  a  receptacle 
for  all  that  he  called  his  own  ;  another  was 
a  provision  chest ;  but  in  a  third,  which  con- 
tained ^what  he  termed  "rubbish,"  he  per- 
mitted Robert  to  search  for  the  mental  food 
in  which  he  delighted. 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  213 

That  was  a  bright  evening  for  Eobert. 
How  carefully  he  drew  forth  volume  after 
volume,  and  examined  its  title  !  One  was  a 
book  of  travels ;  another  the  memoir  of  some 
self-made  man,  who  had  begun  life  in  just  as 
poor  circumstances  as  the  little  driver  boy ; 
and  some  were  the  good  books  and  tracts 
that  had  been  placed  by  Christian  societies  in 
the  wayfarers'  hands,  with  a  view  to  their 
spiritual  profit.  How  well  it  was  for  Robert, 
alone  and  unfriended,  and  with  these  tempt- 
ing opportunities  laid  in  his  way,  that  the 
books  within  his  reach  were  of  such  a 
character,  instead  of  being  the  debasing  and 
licentious  productions  of  a  corrupted  litera- 
ture, such  as  flood  the  land  on  all  sides !  But 
God  watched  over  him. 

Nor  was  Robert  contented  with  doing 
good  only  to  himself.  No  true  Christian  will 
be.  Some  will  say :  "  If  I  were  placed  in  a 
different  situation  in  life,  had  more  wealth, 
or  more  time,  I  think  I  could  be  useful. 
But  now,  engaged  as  I  am  in  this  or  the  other 
business,  poor  as  I  am,  what  can  I  do?" 


214  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

But — "  do  good  as  you  have  opportunity1'— 
is  the  command.  Have  you  none?  Are 
you  without  influence?  No  one  can  be 
Work  then  for  God.  A  little  hand  may  sow 
good  seed ;  a  word  may  reach  with  power 
the  impenitent  heart. 

Robert,  the  driver  boy,  felt  for  other  boys 
in  the  same  occupation  with  himself.  Many 
of  them  had  hard  and  unfeeling  employers; 
and  while  he  was  well  fed  and  clothed,  some 
of  them  were  ragged,  and  looked  famished 
and  miserable.  He  knew  that  this  was  in  a 
great  measure  owing  to  their  individual  bad 
management,  as  most  of  them  had  their 
wages  in  their  own  hands;  but  this  did  not 
make  the  matter  less  to  be  deplored — the  evil 
was  the  same. 

On  the  other  hand,  he  was  delighted  when, 
ever  he  could  make  the  acquaintance  of  any 
who  appeared  to  be — as  he  hoped  he  himself 
was — treading  the  pilgrim's  path  to  the  happy 
land.  And  these  were  not  a  few ;  for  I  write 
in  the  day  of  Christian  enterprise  and  effort; 
when  a  feeling  has  gone  forth  that  this  inul- 


THE  DRIVER  BOY.  215 

titude  of  the  busy  moving  population  on  our 
railways  and  canals,  have  souls  to  be  saved  and 
minds  to  be  informed;  when  the  public  mind 
has  been  aroused  to  the  fact,  that  there  must 
be  religious  instruction  imparted,  and  a  day 
of  rest  given,  or  the  whole  mass  will  become 
demoralized.  Missionaries  are  welcomed 
among  them ;  they  whose  mouths  were  full 
of  cursing  and  bitterness,  have  learned  to 
praise  Him  who  bought  them  with  his  pre- 
cious blood ;  or  have  gone  to  sing  in  the 
world  of  bliss  the  song  of  Moses  and  the 
Lamb.  What  has  been  the  effect  of  these 
Sunday  gatherings  in  the  boats  and  on  the 
banks  of  the  canals — what  the  fruits  of  this 
casting  abroad  "  the  leaves  of  the  tree  of  life" 
— will  not  wholly  be  known,  until  the  deeds 
and  events  of  time  shall  be  viewed  in  the 
light  of  eternity. 

To  induce  those  who  were  not  in  the  habit 
of  attending  these  wayside  meetings,  Eobert 
took  great  pains  to  be  pleasant  and  familiar 
with  the  other  driver  boys  ;  and  though  he 
would  not  be  their  companion  in  anything 


216  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

that  was  wrong,  he  was  always  ready  to  be 
their  assistant  when  they  wanted  help  in 
right  and  honest  ways.  Some  of  them,  like 
the  boys  at  the  mines,  could  read;  while 
others  were  entirely  ignorant,  and  unable 
without  help  to  become  acquainted  with  the 
contents  of  the  books  that  were  placed  in 
their  hands.  How  pleasant  it  was  for  Eobert 
to  be  surrounded  by  an  eager  group,  listen- 
ing to  the  "  gracious  words,"  that  had 
originally  issued  from  divine  lips,  or  been 
commented  on  by  hearts  warmed  with  that 
Saviour's  love  !  Have  any  of  you,  youthful 
readers,  a  talent  that  may  be  employed  for 
Christ?  Bury  it  not  then  in  selfish  ob- 
scurity; but  rejoice  to  be  a  co-worker  with 
Him,  who  has  given  it  for  his  honour  and 
glory. 

Among  his  plans  for  doing  good,  Robert 
did  not  forget  the  poor  out-cast  Joe,  who 
had  now  become  a  little  driver  boy  like 
himself.  There  had  certainly  a  change  of 
some  kind  taken  place  in  the  appearance  of 
the  lad  ;  for  his  countenance  was  no  longer 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  217 

obscured  by  dirt,  and  his  rags  had  been  at 
last  discarded.  While  he  paced  soberly 
along  in  the  measured  trot  that  suited  his 
occupation,  even  the  dog  seemed  to  recognize 
a  difference,  as  he  followed  patiently  in  the 
rear.  How  far  this  transformation  extended, 
Eobert  had  no  means  of  knowing;  for,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  words  of  greeting,  as 
they  met,  the  intercourse  between  them  had 
almost  entirely  ceased.  He  did  think  some- 
times that  Joe  was  present  in  some  hidden 
corner  when  the  missionary  preached  ;  but 
much  oftener  he  knew  him  to  be  absent,  and 
in  company  that  would  be  sure  to  lead  him 
still  further  astray.  His  old  associate,  Ben, 
— who,  tired  of  the  employment  of  a  driver, 
had  sought  and  obtained  some  situation 
about  the  locks, — was  often  seen  on  Sundays 
tempting  the  little  boy  to  an  idle  stroll,  or 
some  diversion  of  more  dangerous  character; 
and  Robert,  although  he  tried  hard  to  find 
some  means  of  counteracting  this  influence, 
failed  of  success.  But  God  was  preparing  a 
way  for  him,  although  he  knew  it  not. 
19 


218  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 


CHAPTER  XII. 

A  SAD    ACCIDENT. ITS  BLESSED    RESULTS   IN    THE  CONVER- 
SION   AND    HAPPY    DEATH    OF    THE    POOR    OUTCAST    JOE. 
» 

Six  months  of  Robert's  time  as  a  driver 
boy  had  now  nearly  come  to  an  end ;  and  he 
could  look  forward  to  being  out  of  debt 
again.  He  should  be  richer  too  than  he  had 
expected ;  for  his  employer  had  generously 
raised  his  wages  after  the  first  three  months 
had  expired,  considering  him  more  of  an  able 
assistant  than  he  had  at  first  looked  for. 
So,  even  before  the  boating  season  was  over, 
•he  had  money  to  provide  himself  with  a 
neat  suit  of  Sunday  clothes ;  the  first  he  had 
earned  by  his  own  exertions,  and  the  only 
good  ones  he  had  owned  for  a  long  time. 

I  will  not  say  that  he  was  proud,  as  he 
stepped  om  of  the  shop  where  his  clothes 
had  been  purchased,  and  made  up  in  a 
nice  roll  for  him  to  carry;  but  he  certainly 


THE    DRIVER   BOY.  219 

was  very  much  gratified  that  he  had  paid 
for  this  suit  with  his  own  money — for  who 
does  not  prize  his  first  earnings?  He  was 
delighted,  too,  to  think,  that  he  would  be 
able  now  to  go  to  the  house  of  God ;  for  his 
clothes  had  hitherto  been  unfit  to  attend  it. 
And  his  next  thought  was  that  he  would 
ask  permission  of  the  captain  to  look  for 
his  friend,  Mr.  Hallam. 

He  had  wished  to  do  so  before,  but  when- 
ever they  came  in  sight  of  the  beautiful  city 
rising  on  the  view  with  its  stately  buildings, 
and  the  din  of  busy  life  reaching  to  its  ut- 
most limits,  Robert  had  felt  himself  so  little 
a  unit  in  the  mighty  million,  that  he  shrunk 
back  bewildered  and  afraid.  But  this  he 
thought  would  never  do — he  must  try  and 
have  more  courage ;  and  perhaps  with  a  real 
new  suit  on  his  back,  bought  with  his  own 
earnings,  he  felt  himself  of  a  little  more 
importance.  So,  having  gained  the  desired 
permission  to  be  absent  while  the  boat  was 
discharging  its  load,  the  little  driver  boy 
bounded  up  the  wharf,  and  for  the  first  time 


220  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

trod  the  crowded  thoroughfares,  that  had 
until  then  only  been  wondered  at  in  the 
distance.  So  many  charming, objects  took 
his  attention,  that  he  was  at  first  as  one  in  a 
dream — a  situation  only  to  be  realized  by 
those  who  have  lived  afar  from  the  stir  and 
commotion  of  city  life. 

Sometimes  he  stood  lost  in  admiration 
before  an  elegant  mansion,  with  its  marble 
front  and  ornamental  pillars ;  then  the 
gorgeous  contents  of  windows — appearing 
doubly  brilliant  through  the  polished  plate 
glass  that  seemed  scarcely  a  protection  to 
them — arrested  his  notice  ;  and,  best  of  all, 
the  green  squares  that  looked  so  home-like, 
with  their  childish  groups  at  play.  It  was 
no  wonder  that  Robert  wandered  a  long 
time  up  and  down,  scarcely  remembering 
the  purpose  that  had  drawn  him  thither. 

All  at  once  he  became  sensible  that  he 
was  alone  in  a  great  metropolis,  with  none 
to  care  for  him,  or  be  sorry  if  anything 
should  befal  him 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  221 

"  In  a  whole  city  full, 
Was  it  not  pitiful  " 

that  he  had  not  one  friend  ?  Yes,  he  had 
one — and  his  heart  bounded  at  the  thought — 
if  only  he  could  find  him  out.  And  now  he 
began  earnestly  to  try  to  reach  the  place 
where  Mr.  Hallam  had  said  he  must  inquire 
for  him.  He  had  the  street  and  number 
written  on  a  piece  of  paper,  that  his  teacher 
had  given  him  at  parting ;  but  so  many 
months  had  passed  away, — might  there  not 
be  some  change  ?  And  then  every  one 
seemed  to  be  so  intent  on  his  own  business, 
that  he  stood  a  small  chance  of  having  his 
timid  inquiries  answered.  Some  hurried  on 
without  heeding  him ;  others  shook  their 
heads  and  frowned  ;  and  the  few  who  good- 
naturedly  stopped  to  listen  to  the  little  boy, 
were  entirely  ignorant  of  the  location  of  his 
friend.  At  length  Robert  became  quite 
disheartened,  and  concluded  it  would  be 
best  to  give  up  his  search  for  that  time.  The 
sun  was  almost  down,  and  by  it  he  steered, 
as  the  captain  would  hare  termed  it,  hia 


222  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

course  to  the  river  again  ;  for  otherwise  in 
his  bewildered  state  he  would  probably  have 
lost  his  way. 

"Well,"  said  the  boatman,  after  Robert 
had  told  him  of  his  want  of  success ;  "  I  should 
have  thought  you  knew  better  than  to  be 
such  a  raw  sailor.  Why,  it  was  like  looking 
for  a  needle  in  a  haystack.  If  I  were  you, 
I  would  ask  the  missionary  when  he  comes 
along.  Maybe  he'll  know;  as  you  say  your 
friend  was  going  to  be  a  preacher." 

This  idea  was  a  good  one ;  and  Robert  re- 
solved that  he  would  act  on  it.  But  some 
weeks  passed  away  before  he  was  able  to  say 
anything  to  the  missionary  who  frequented 
his  route,  and  then  he  received  very  small 
encouragement;  for  though  his  hearer  was 
evidently  interested  in  his  story,  and  asked 
many  questions  of  the  little  boy,  he  did  not 
promise  that  he  would  help  him  to  find  his 
Iriend,  Mr.  Hallam.  But  some  circumstances 
that  took  place  about  this  time,  caused  Robert 
to  bear  this  disappointment  with  more  than 
his  usual  patience.  His  work — the  work  that 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  223 

he  had  hitherto  sought  in  every  situation  in 
which  Providence  had  placed  him — that  of 
being  useful  to  others — was  not  yet  accom- 
plished. 

He  had  been  absent  for  the  Sabbath  at  his 
old  home  near  the  mines ;  and  having  had  a 
very  pleasant  time  accompanying  aunt  Peggy 
and  good  old  David  to  a  place  of  worship, 
he  was  returning  in  the  bright  dawn  of  the 
following  day  to  the  boat,  which  was  waiting 
for  him  a  few  miles  down  the  river. 

"  Have  you  heard  the  news  ?"  said  the  cap- 
tain, as  Robert  entered  the  cabin,  for  the 
purpose  of  changing  his  Sunday  clothing ; 
u  Ben  Waters  is  drowned  ;  and  the  little  boy 
they  called  Joe  Rough,  is  more  than  half 
dead  they  say.  Been  fighting  yesterday  on 
the  bank  of  the  river,,  and  both  tumbled  in. 
There  must  have  been  a  hidden  rock  some- 
where, that  they  struck  against;  for  one 
sunk  like  a  log,  and  t'other's  bruised  and 
stunned  enough,  though  his  dog  jumped  in 
and  dragged  him  out.  This  comes  of  wan- 
dering about  on  Sundays.  You  may  be 
thankful,  Robert,  that  you  know  better." 


224  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE. 

Robert  was  thankful ; — thankful  for  the 
grace  that  had  led  him,  and  guided  him,  and 
kept  him  from  the  evil.  But  he  was  over- 
whelmed with  the  intelligence.  Poor  wick- 
ed Ben  Waters !  cut  off  in  his  sins,  without 
being  prepared  for  death  ;  and  he  whom 
he  had  lured  to  his  ruin  following  so  swiftly 
after.  Yet  for  the  living  there  might  still 
be  hope.  Robert  remembered  the  touching 
incident  of  the^tract  and  the  scripture  text, 
concerning  which  Joe  had  shown  so  much 
interest ;  and  although  he  had  given  no 
evidence  since  that  these  impressions  re- 
mained, yet  he  might  not  be  altogether 
hardened.  He  would  therefore  try  to  see 
him ;  and  to  accomplish  this,  he  must  consult 
the  will  of  his  employer. 

"Captain,"  said  he,  "don't  you  think  I 
could  get  some  one  to  go  in  my  place  for  a 
day  or  two  to  drive  the  horses  ?  I  want  so 
much  to  see  poor  Joe.  He  has  no  friends — 
no  one  that  cares  for  him." 

"  Well,  that's  hard  too,"  said  the  captain  ; 
11  yet  it  seems  to  me  if  one  does  right,  he'll 


THE    DRIVER   BOY.  225 

get  friends.  How  did  you  corne  by  all 
yours,  Bob  True  ?  Now  this  Ben  Waters 
has  a  mother ;  and  they've  sent  her  word  to 
come  down.  They  say  she  thinks  a  deal  of 
him — poor  woman  ! — though  he  was  bnt  an 
undutiful  son,  never  sending  her  a  cent  of 
his  wages.  But  what  a  dreadful  sight  it  will 
be  for  her  !-- rthat  blue,  disfigured  body  that 
they've  just  drawn  from  the  water." 

It  was  indeed  a  fearful  sight  for  the  poor 
mother.  The  form,  that  when  a  babe  she 
had  so  carefully  tended,  now  stretched  out 
stiff  and  cold  in  the  silence  of  death — the 
fingers  clenched,  that  had  once  been  the 
little  clasping  hand — the  eyes  closed  in 
darkness,  that  had  perhaps  in  guileless  child- 
hood been  to  her  all  the  joy  of  her  widowed 
life !  And  so  much  more  to  be  deplored 
than  the  death  of  the  body,  was  the  inevita- 
ble doom  of  the  lost  soul. 

Kobert  thought  of  all  these  things,  as  with 
the  consent  of  the  captain  he  made  his  pre- 
parations for  another  day's  absence,  and 
began  to  get  his  horses  ready  for  their  usual 


226  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

route.  There  was  a  little  boy  who,  having 
been  out  of  regular  employment  for  some 
time,  usually  assisted  about  the  boats  in  case 
of  extra  work ;  and  Robert  had  thought  of 
recommending  him  for  a  driver  in  his  place, 
if  he  should  be  so  happy  as  to  meet  with 
another  situation.  He  was  found,  as  usual, 
looking  for  an  opportunity  of  getting  work 
for  the  day ;  and  readily  promised  to  take 
Robert's  place,  and  do  his  duty  with  the 
horses. 

Robert  walked  quickly  to  the  miserable 
building,  where  the  bodies  of  the  two 
wretched  boys  had  been  conveyed.  It  was 
only  a  temporary  shed,  which  had  been  used 
by  some  workmen  as  a  shelter  for  their  tools, 
and  sometimes  for  a  place  to  pass  the  night 
in.  Yet,  slight  as  it  was,  it  had  been  divided 
into  two  small  apartments,  which  served  to 
separate  the  living  from  the  dead.  On  some 
rough,  old  slabs  in  one  of  these  places  they 
had  laid  the  body  of  Robert's  former  acquaint- 
ance, poor  Ben  Waters !  who,  scarcely  arrived 
at  youthful  manhood,  had  been,  cut  off  in 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  227 

his  sins.  Truly  "  the  way  of  transgressors  is 
hard."  "  Yet  surely  I  know  that  it  shall  be 
well  with  them  that  fear  God,  that  fear  before 
him." 

After  looking  with  awe  upon  the  senseless 
form  of  one,  whom  he  had  seen  so  lately  in 
all  the  pride  and  strength  of  active  life, 
now  so  miserably  changed,  Robert  entered 
the  apartment  where  the  still  breathing 
body  of  the  poor  little  outcast  Joe  had  been 
deposited.  Nothing  that  looked  like  the 
care  of  friends — none  of  the  sympathy  and 
tenderness  that  so  soften  the  harrowing 
throes  of  disease — surrounded  the  sufferer. 
Common  humanity  had  provided  a  rude 
bed,  but,  #s  the  weather  was  warm,  there 
had  been  no  coverings  given  with  it  ;  and 
his  own  wet  garments  had  been  allowed 
to  dry  on  him  without  change.  No  friendly 
hand  offered  to  bathe  his  discoloured  brow, 
or  bring  refreshment  to  his  fevered  lips. 
It  was  still  very  early  ;  and  those  who  had 
looked  in  and  gathered  about  the  premises 
during  the  night,  had  sought  each  his  usual 


228  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

occupation,  without  offering  any  further 
assistance.  Only  the  faithful  dog,  who  had 
been  the  means  of  saving  his  master's  life, 
crouched  on  the  straw  by"  his  side,  with 
the  patient,  waiting  look  that  he  had  when  Joe 
took  his  usual  naps. 

But  the  boy  was  not  asleep.  His  pain 
was  as  living  fire  in  his  bones,  giving  no 
moment  for  repose ;  and  his  bright,  restless 
eyes  fixed  themselves  on  Robert,  as  if  asking 
for  relief.  All  the  aid  that  was  in  his  power 
Robert  was  ready  to  give.  Knowing  by 
experience  how  very  pleasant  it  is,  when 
sick,  to  be  cleanly  and  comfortably  arranged, 
he  looked  about  him  for  the  means  of 
making  the  little  sufferer  as  easy  as  possible. 

He  first  gathered  up  the  refuse  litter  of 
the  place,  and  put  it  out  of  sight;  then 
having  found  a  ragged  garment  in  one  cor- 
ner that  had  been  thrown  away  as  useless, 
he  arranged  it  as  well  as  he  could  at  the 
broken  window,  so  that  the  light  might  be 
shaded  from  the  burning  eyeballs  of  poor, 
suffering  Joe.  He  could  not,  without  assist- 


THE    DRIVER  BOY.  229 

ance,  do  more ;  but  he  thought  how  nicely 
a  little  pure  water  would  improve  his  ap- 
pearance ;  and  he  ran  to  procure  some.  As 
he  bathed  his  hot  hands  and  parched  mouth, 
Joe's  eyes,  that  had  been  so  wild  and  pierc- 
ing, softened  in  their  expression.  Perhaps 
his  heart  too  melted  under  the  powerful  in- 
fluence of  kindneaj  and  sympathy. 

"Do  you  like  me  now.  Bob  True?"  he 
whispered  faintly. 

"  Oh  !  I  arn  very  sorry  for  you,  Joe,"  said 
Eobert,  with  emotion.  "  How  I  wish  that 
you  had  been  always  good !  Won't  you  try 
now  to  think  of  your  sins,  and  of  the  dear 
Saviour,*who  died  for  such  sinners  as  you 
and  me  ?" 

"  That's  it,"  said  Joe,  eagerly  ;  "  of  whom 
I  am  chief.  I  don't  forget,  you  see.  '  Christ 
Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinnerst 
of  whom  I  am  chief.'  " 

"  0  Joe,"  said  Robert,  "  if  you  could  only 
feel  that.  If  you  could  only  say  from  your 
heart :  '  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner.'  " 

"  Does  it  say  that  too  ?"  asked  Joe,  drearn- 
20 


230  LITTLE  BOB  TKUE, 

ily,  as  he  tugged  at  some  object  concealed  in 
the  folds  of  his  rough  jacket.  Kobert  aided 
the  effort ;  and  succeeded  in  dislodging  from 
its  hiding  place,  the  fragments  of  the  very 
tract  that  the  little  boy  had  received,  at  the 
first  religions  meeting  he  had  ever  attended. 

"  Does  it  ? — say — does  it  ?"  he  pursued,  as 
Kobert  tried  to  open  the  matted  leaves,  that 
having  been  drenched  in  the  water  were  no 
longer  fit  for  use. 

"  It  will  say  nothing  more,  Joe ;  but  I 
have  a  book  that  will  tell  us  better  about 
these  things.  It  is  all  in  here,"  said  Robert, 
as  he  took  out  the  little  Bible  that  he  always 
carried  with  him. 

"  That's  what  you  read  out  of  that  night 
at  the  blacksmith's,  when  I  took  your  money 
— ain't  it,  Bob  True?  I'm  very  sorry — 
I've  been  very  sorry  ever  since — and  I 
wanted  to  tell  you  about  it,  and  something 
else  too  ;  but  he  wouldn't  let  me." 

"  Who  wouldn't,  Joe  ?" 

"  That  one  they've  put  in  there — "  said 
Joe,  in  a  frightened  whisper,  as  he  pointed 


'IT    IS    ALL    IN    HERE."  P;tgC 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  231 

shudderingly  to  the  decayed  partition  that 
separated  the  two  portions  of  the  shed — 
"  he  won't  hear  me,  will  he,  if  I  tell  you  now  ?" 

"  No !"  said  Eobert  with  solemnity,  and 
unconsciously  using  the  scripture  phrases, 
with  which  he  was  so  familiar — "  the  dead 
know  not  anything,  for  their  love  and  their 
envy  and  their  hatred  is  now  perished  .  .  . 
there  is  no  work,  nor  device,  nor  wisdom, 
nor  knowledge  in  the  grave.'  " 

"  Yes,  but  he  ain't  buried  yet  in  the  grave," 
urged  Joe,  still  in  the  same  low  tones.  "  He 
said  he'd  always  hear  me,  and  have  me  shut 
up  in  the  State's  prison — that's  a  dreadful 
place,  ain't  it,  Bob  True  ?" 

Poor  Joe  !  he  had  been  afraid  of  a  mortal 
whose  breath  was  in  his  nostrils,  and  who 
had  been  crushed  before  the  moth ;  but  he 
had  not  feared  God  his  Maker,  who  is  able 
to  destroy  both  soul  and  body  in  hell. 

When  he  became  more  composed,  he  told 
Robert  a  sorrowful  story.  That  he  had, 
while  the  blacksmith  was  in  the  shed  at  the 
mines  where  the  boys  worked,  contrived,  un- 


232  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

noticed  as  he  thought,  to  steal  his  pocket- 
book  ;  but  that  Ben  Waters  had  seen  and 
charged  him  with  the  theft ;  promising  not 
to  tell  any  one  if  Joe  would  give  him  a  part 
of  the  money.  He  had  frightened  him  from 
time  to  time  with  threats  of  the  State  prison, 
assuring  him  that  he  would  be  chained  and 
whipped  and  starved  there ;  besides  being 
deprived  of  what  Joe  prized  so  much — the 
liberty  of  roaming  at  will  over  the  face  of 
the  earth.  The  little  boy  went  on  to  tell 
Robert  what  feelings  he  had  at  the  meeting 
that  day,  and  how  he  had  promised  to  himself 
that  he  would  try  and  make  up  the  money, 
and  pay  the  blacksmith  his  own  ;  that  Ben 
Waters  had  found  this  out,  and  always  used 
means  to  take  the  money  from  him,  either 
by  tempting  him  to  some  Sunday  excursion, 
or  urging  him  to  their  favourite  amusement 
of  card-playing. 

"  And  whenever  I  wanted  to  tell  you — 
and  oh  !  how  much  I  wanted  to,  Bob  True!" 
continued  poor  little  Joe,  "  he  frightened  me, 
and  said  he  would  lock  me  up.  Then  when 


THE    DRIVER   BOY.  233 

you  got  sick,  and  they  wouldn't  let  me  see 
you,  I  went  far  away,  where  I  thought  no 
one  would  know  me.  But  I  couldn't  help 
thinking  there  too  ;  and  I  kept  feeling  sorry 
all  the  time.  Then  the  man  that  hired  me 
came  along,  and  told  me  how  much  money 
I  would  get  if  I  would  be  a  driver  boy. 
And  so  I  came  back.  But  I  haven't  been  do- 
ing any  good  ever  since." 

"  What  did  you  feel  sorry  for,  Joe?"  asked 
Eobert,  after  he  had  listened  to  this  artless 
narration  of  the  experience  of  one  who  had 
been  brought  up  in  such  utter  ignorance 
of  the  right  way.  He  could  not  but  think 
that  God's  Spirit  had  striven  with  him — fol- 
lowed him — and  would  not  let  him  go. 

"  I  felt  about  being  so  bad.  The  man  that 
preached  that  day  said  the  Saviour  died  to 
take  us  to  heaven.  And  he  said  heaven  was 
such  a  good  place.  I  want  to  go  there.  I 
wonder  if  the  Saviour  will  let  me" 

"  0  yes,  Joe — yes,  dear  Joe,"  said  Robert ; 
for  he  felt  then  all  a  brother's  tenderness  for 
the  little  outcast — "  he  will  save  all  that 
20* 


234  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

come  to  him.  He  don't  want  you  to  do  any- 
thing, only  love  him,  and  give  yourself  to 
him  ;  and  if  you  love  him,  you  will  always 
be  sorry  to  do  anything  wicked.  He  says, 
*  I  came  not  to  call  the  righteous,  but  sinners 
tc  repentance.' " 

And  Kobert,  as  he  stooped  over  the  lowly 
bed  of  poor  Joe,  murmured  half  aloud, 

"  Nothing  in  my  hand  I  bring, 
Simply  to  thy  cross  I  cling." 

"  And  now,  Joe/'  said  Robert,  as  he  rose 
from  the  crouching  posture  that  he  had  been 
obliged  to  take  to  be  near  the  sufferer,  who 
lay  almost  on  the  bare  ground,  "  I  am  going 
out  to  try  and  get  help  to  make  you  more 
comfortable.  But  before  I  go,  I  want  you  to 
tell  me  one  thing — for  perhaps  some  one  will 
ask  me — what  was  that  fight  about  yester- 
day?" 

"  We  wasn't  fighting.  I  had  the  money 
all  ready  again  for  the  blacksmith  ;  and  I 
had  made  up  my  mind  to  tell  you  and  get 
you  to  go  with  me,  for  I  was  afraid.  But  he 


THE    DRIVER  BOY.  235 

found  it  out ;  and  then  he  tried  to  get  it  from 
me.  I  pushed  away,  and  he  followed  and 
struggled  with  me ;  and  before  we  knew  we 
were  in  the  water  together,  and  struck  on 
something  hard.  And  now  I  want  you,  Bob 
True,  to  help  me  give  that  man  his  own. 
They  say  I  am  going  to 'die,  and  I  think  I 
shall.  I've  been  a  bad  boy  ;  but  I  never 
knew  I  was  so  bad  till  the  day  when  I  heard 
the  preaching."  • 

All  the  rest  of  that  morning  Robert  busied 
himself  in  doing  what  he  could  to  make  the 
situation  of  poor  Joe  as  easy  as  possible. 
He  knew  that  his  boat  would  not  return  for 
some  days,  so  that  he  had  plenty  of  time. 
He  first  engaged  the  services  of  an  old 
woman,  who  kept  a  shanty  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood, to  look  in  occasionally  and  see 
that  Joe  had  his  few  wants  attended  to. 
Then  he  went  among  the  labourers  and 
driver  boys  on  the  canal,  and  interested  them 
so  much  that  he  soon  had  money  enough  to 
supply  him  with  all  he  wanted.  His  first 
need  was  for  a  doctor,  and  that  without  any 


236  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

more  delay ;  for  the  situation  of  the  poor  boy 
was  very  critical.  Pie  walked  also  to  aunt 
Peggy's  cabin,  and  told  her  all  the  circum- 
stances. 

Aunt  Peggy  was  very  much  shocked  ;  and 
felt  more  perhaps  than  she  would  have  done, 
if  she  had  not  been  conscious  of  having  be- 
havea  rather  unkindly  and  roughly  to  the 
poor  boy.  So  she  gathered  up  immediately 
such  articles  of  clothing  and  other  matters, 
as  she  thought  would  be  of  use ;  and  with 
Robert's  willing  assistance,  soon  made  an 
alteration  for  the  better  in  the  situation  of 
poor  Joe.  Her  active  hands  arranged  a 
comfortable  bed  for  the  little  sufferer;  and 
smoothed  the  snowy  sheets  and  soft  pillows 
for  a  form,  that  had  never  before  been  so 
luxuriously  cared  for.  She  would  willingly 
also  have  had  him  taken  to  her  own  dwelling, 
and  nursed  and  tended  him  as  she  had  her 
favourite  Robert.  But  the  doctor  said  it  was 
not  best  to  do  so.  The  boy  was  fatally  in- 
jured, and  could  not  survive  many  ilays.  Be- 
sides the  bruising  and  maiming  of  his  limbs, 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  237 

which  made  it  painful  for  him  to  be  moved, 
he  had  sustained  some  internal  injury,  which, 
operating  on  a  system  already  weakened  by 
the  wretched  life  he  had  always  led,  threat- 
ened to  prove  fatal. 

Yes,  Joe's  days  were  numbered.  But  few 
as  they  were,  they  were  happy  days  com- 
pared with  the  miserable  life  that  had  pre- 
ceded them  ;  happy  above  all  else  in  having 
been  led  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth ; — 
happy  also  in  having  friends  to  care  for  him. 
Aunt  Peggy  watched  over  him ;  old  David 
came  and  talked  with  him  the  words  of 
heavenly  wisdom,  yet  in  such  simple 
language  as  the  poor  weak-minded  boy  could 
understand ;  the  missionary  visited  him ;  and 
Eobert  spent  all  the  time  he  could  spare 
from  his  daily  duty  at  his  side. 

He  often  travelled  many  miles  at  night  to 
stay  with  him ;  walking  back  in  the  morning 
in  time  for  the  usual  hour  of  starting.  And 
always  when  he  came  he  was  greeted  by 
a  faint  smile  of  joy  from  the  dying  boy  ; 
for  Joe  had  a  good  hope  now  that  the  Sa 


238  LITTLE  BOB   TRUE, 

viour  was  his;  and  he  felt  the  usual  bond  of 
union  with  those  who  had  the  like  precious 
faith. 

Sometimes  he  talked  with  those  about  him 
of  his  past  life,  so  full  of  misery  and  degra- 
dation ;  and  it  appeared  from  all  that  could 
be  gathered,  that  his  had  always  been  a  hard 
lot ;  and  one  of  such  pitiable  ignorance,  as 
few  could  believe  it  possible  could  exist  in 
a  land  of  Christian  light  and  knowledge. 
But  let  it  be  remembered,  that  in  the  vile 
lanes  and  alleys  of  stately  cities  dwell 
wretched  outcasts,  whose  darkness  is  as  great 
as  that  of  the  heathen  ; — little  children  who 
have  never  heard  of  God,  but  by  listening  to 
the  desecration  of  his  name ;  or  of  a  future 
state  of  rewards  and  punishments,  but  by 
the  familiar  expletives  of  the  language  of 
profanity. 

"  I  can  remember,"  said  Joe,  "  of  living  in  a 
cellar  that  was  almost  dark.  Sometimes  we 
had  a  fire  ;  and  sometimes  we  had  none !  and 
I  had  to  cry  because  I  was  hungry  and  cold 
too.  And  then  they  beat  me,  and  sent  me 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  239 

out  to  beg  broken  victuals.  Often  I  have 
stayed  out  in  the  streets  till  night ;  and  my 
feet  were  almost  frozen  in  the  snow.  Then 
when  I  came  in  they  would  be  drinking  and 
fighting ;  and  I  was  sometimes  afraid  they 
would  kill  me." 

"  Who  were  they,  Joe  ? — your  father  and 
mother  ?" 

"  No !  I  never  knew  any  one  to  call  so. 
They  were  dreadful  people  that  used  to  wish 
I  was  dead.  And  I  used  to  wish  so  too. 
And  when  I  got  bigger  they  said  I  must  go 
steal  things,  and  I  did.  But  now  I  am 
sorry." 

"  How  did  you  get  away  from  them  ?" 

"  Oh,  they  had  a  great  time  once ;  and  the 
police  came  and  took  them  up ;  and  put  me 
in  a  place  where  they  kept  little  boys  till 
they  could  bind  them  out.  But  mine  wasn't 
a  good  place ;  or  I  thought  then  it  wasn't. 
I  know  I  was  bad ;  and  the  bad  never  have 
friends,  they  say.  I  had  none  but  Kough. 
So  when  I  was  whipped  and  locked  up,  I 
thought  I  would  run  away ;  and  then  Rough 
came  with  me." 


240  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

As  he  concluded  his  simple  story,  Joe  put 
out  his  wasted  hand  to  pat  the  head  of  his 
dog,  who  had  leaped  up  with  his  forepaws 
on  the  bed,  attracted  by  the  sound  of  his 
master's  voice. 

"  Poor  Rough !"  he  said,  "  what  will  you 
do  when  I  am  gone  ?  You  won't  have  any 
friend  then.  O  sir — "  he  resumed,  with 
one  of  his  old  bright  glances,  as  he  looked 
round,  and  saw  the  blacksmith  standing 
among  the  rest, — "  0  sir,  won't  you  take 
Bough?  I  know  Bob  True  wants  to  go 
away  to  another  place  ;  so  I  will  ask  you  to 
take  my  dog." 

The  blacksmith,  who  had  been  sent  for  at 
Joe's  earnest  desire,  that  he  might  with  his 
own  hands  make  restitution  of  the  stolen 
property,  could  scarcely  keep  from  weeping, 
as  he  assured  poor  Joe  that  he  would  cer- 
tainly take  care  of  his  faithful  companion  ; 
and  he  was  entirely  overcome,  when  the 
little  boy,  asking  earnestly  his  forgiveness 
for  the  fault  he  had  committed,  placed  with 
trembling  fingers  that  sum  in  his  Jiand, 


THE   DKIVER  BOY.  2-il 

which  had  been  the  occasion  of  so  much 
misery  to  himself  and  his  unhappy  asso- 
ciaoe. 

"  What  can  I  do  with  it  ?"  said  James, 
earnestly  to  Robert,  as  he  stepped  back  from 
the  bed — "It  don't  seem  right  for  me  to  keep 
it,  even  if  it  is  my  own.  I  know  now  what 
use  I  will  put  it  to,"  he  continued,  after  a 
moment's  reflection  ;  "  it  will  buy  testaments 
and  tracts  for  some  more  of  the  driver  boys. 
That  will  serve  to  make  them  think  of  poor 
Joe." 

Yes,  it  would  be  his  best  memorial ; — 
the  purchasing  of  that  blessed  book,  whose 
words  had  brought  life  to  his  soul.  For  if 
Charity  smoothed  his  dying  bed,  Faith  and 
Hope  joined  hands  over  it,  and  whispered : 
"Is  not  this  a  brand  plucked  out  of  the 
burning?" 
21 


242  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

ROBERT   MEETS  WITH   HIS    FRIEND,    MR   HALLAM. — CONCLU- 
SION. 

AFTER  the  death  of  little  Joe,  Robert  con. 
tinued  some  considerable  time  in  the  occupa- 
tion of  a  driver  boy.  The  boating  season 
was  indeed  nearly  over  ;  and  wintry  storms 
and  cold  weather  had  begun  to  take  the  place 
of  pleasant  days  and  the  warm  breath  of 
summer.  A  very  short  time  only  remained 
for  fulfilling  his  engagement  on  the  canal ; 
when  one  evening,  as  he  led  bis  horses  to 
the  place  where  he  was  used  to  curry  and 
feed  them,  he  observed  that  a  stranger  had 
stepped  out  of  the  packet  boat,  and  was 
engaged  in  earnest  conversation  with  the 
captain  of  the  one  for  which  Robert  was 
driver. 

The  little  boy  gazed  earnestly.  Some- 
thing in  the  form  and  manner  reminded  him 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  243 

of  one  very  dear  to  him  ;  and  he  waited  with 
a  beating  heart,  until  he  could  get  a  good  look 
at  his  features.  When  he  did  so,  he  started 
forward  with  an  exclamation  of  delight ; 
it  was  his  friend,  Mr.  Hallam. 

When  the  first  joyful  surprise  was  over, 
and  Mr.  Hallam  had  explained,  in  a  few 
words,  that  he  was  made  acquainted  with 
Robert's  situation  as  a  driver  boy,  by  the 
missionary  to  whom  he  had  applied  some 
months  before,  he  began  to  make  arrange- 
ments with  the  captain  for  the  transfer  of 
Kobert's  remaining  time  to  himself;  offer- 
ing to  pay  him  whatever  he  should  think 
proper  for  the  release ;  for  as  Robert  had 
hired  for  the  season,  he  thought  :f,  not 
right  for  him  to  give  up  his  engagement, 
and  put  his  employer  to  an  inconvenience, 
without  remuneration.  He  explained  that 
his  reason  for  taking  Robert  away  just  at 
that  time,  was  on  account  of  his  being 
himself  about  to  journey  to  the  west ;  and 
the  coming  on  of  winter  made  a  longer 
delay  in  travelling  both  unsafe  and  unplea- 
sant. 

* 


244  LI1TLE   BOB   TRUE, 

But  Robert's  employer  would  not  hear  of 
receiving  compensation  for  the  few  weeks 
that  were  due  to  him.  He  insisted  on 
paying  the  whole  amount  that  would 
have  been  fairly  earned  by  the  little  boy  at 
the  end  of  the  season ;  and  generously 
placed  twenty  instead  of  fifteen  dollars  in 
Robert's  hand. 

"  You  have  been  a  good  boy,  Bob  True ; 
and  I  haven't  lost  anything  by  having  you  for 
a  driver.  The  very  horses  love  you ;  for 
you  are  kind  to  them,  and  take  good  care 
they  are  well  put  up  before  you  look  out  for 
yourself.  I  hope  you  will  keep  on  doing 
well,  as  you  have  begun  to  do;  and  little 
Johnny  Mason  and  I  will  get  along  well 
enough  together  for  the  rest  of  the  time. 

It  was  very  true  that  even  the  horses 
loved  Robert;  for  they  had  learned  to  know 
his  step,  and  prick  up  their  ears  at  the  sound 
of /his  voice.  He  almost  cried  as  he  patted 
them  for  the  last  time,  and  bade  them  good- 
bye. These  last  times  are  so  painful ! 
whether  it  be  our  leave-taking  of  a  beloved 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  245 

face,  or  even  a  tree  or  flower  that  stands  as 
a  way  mark  of  the  familiar  scenes  in  life's 
journey. 

Yet  Robert  was  very  glad  to  see  his  dear 
teacher  again ;  and  prouder  to  walk  by  his 
side  through  the  crowded  streets  of  the 
goodly  city,  than  when  he  sought  it  months 
before  with  his  first  new  suit  on  his  back. 
Scarcely  did  he  see  the  objects  that  had 
been  so  bewildering  to  him  on  his  last 
visit ;  the  present  seemed  to  him  but  as  a 
happy  dream ;  and  he  had  only  begun  to 
realize  that  he  was  indeed  no  longer  a  driver 
boy,  but  in  the  way  of  having  his  bright- 
est hopes  accomplished,  when  Mr.  Hallam 
stopped  before  a  large  building,  and  telling 
Eobert  that  they  should  stay  there  for  the 
present,  took  his  hand  and  led  him  up  the 
marble  steps  that  fronted  the  entrance. 

It  was  a  large  and  handsome  apartment, 
into  which  the  little  driver  boy  was  intro- 
duced ;  and  formed  a  perfect  contrast  to  the 
scenes  that  had  hitherto  surrounded  him,  in 
the  old  hill-side  cottage,  or  the  farm-houses 
21* 


24:6  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

that  lie  had  tarried  at,  in  his  long  journey 
from  the  home  of  his  early  years.  But  it 
was  not  the  soft,  velvety  carpet  that  gave 
back  no  echo  to  his  footsteps — the  gaily 
decorated  hangings — the  luxurious  arm- 
chairs, disposed  in  graceful  confusion  as  the 
last  occupants  had  left  them — nor  even  the 
glowing  fire  of  anthracite,  flashing  gleams 
of  ruddy  light  on  the  polished  grate,  thereby 
recalling  the  scenes  he  had  just  left,  with 
their  toil  and  exposure ;  these  things  claimed 
but  a  passing  glance  froirTthe  little  traveller. 
The  room  had  been  evidently  fitted  up 
for  a  library ;  as  the  long  oval  table  in  the 
centre  furnished  with  writing  materials,  and 
still  more  decidedly  the  tempting  rows  of 
book  shelves,  indicated.  Before  these  Eob- 
ert  stood  as  one  entranced.  He  had  never 
in  his  life  before  seen  so  many  books  together, 
and  he  thought  the  owner  of  such  mental 
treasures  must  be  very  happy.  He  turned 
at  last  with  a  deep  drawn  sigh  to  Mr.  Hallam, 
who  was  seated  with  folded  arms,  mak-ing  a 
study  of  the  little  boy,  as  Eobert  had  been 
doing  with  the  precious  books. 


THE   DEIVER   BOY.  247 

"I  have  been  learning  nothing  all  this 
time,  Mr.  Hallam." 

"  Nothing — Eobert  ?" 

"  I  mean  about  books — such  things  as 
grammar,  geography,  and  working  out  ques- 
tions in  arithmetic.  All  the  books  I  used 
to  have  at  school,  I  had  to  leave,  Mr.  Hallam, 
I  could  bring  nothing  with  me  but  my  Bible 
and  hyrnn  book." 

"  The  very  best  guide  through  the  storms 
and  tempests  and  troubles  of  life.  If  it  has 
been  your  chart  to  direct  you  to  the  true 
haven  of  rest,  Robert,  happy  are  you!  The 
knowledge  of  the  heavenly  country,  also,  is 
far  above  that  of  the  earth  ;  its  holy  language 
may  be  used  by  a  tongue  unlearned  in  the 
literature  of  this  world  ;  and  there  is  an 
arithmetic,  Robert,  which  even  a  wise  man 
desired  to  be  instructed  in.  'So  teach  us  to 
number  our  days,  that  we  may  apply  our 
hearts  unto  wisdom.'  " 

"But  it  is  not  wrong  for  us  to  learn  the 
other  things,  Mr.  Hallam  ?" 

"  No,  my  dear  boy,  it  is  proper  and  right 


248  LITTLE   BOB  TRUE, 

that  we  should  be  well  informed  in  all  that 
belongs  to  the  situation  in  which  Providence 
has  placed  us.  He  who  made  the  mind  of 
man  has  given  us  facilities  for  cultivating  our 
mental  powers,  without  which  they  would 
remain  useless ;  as  a  garden,  untilled,  will 
grow  up  with  unsightly  weeds.  But  I  want 
to  show  you,  that  you  have  all  this  time  not 
only  not  been  wasting  your  opportunities, 
but  really  learning  something."  * 

Eobert  was  now  all  attention  ;  and  having 
taken  a  seat  by  his  friend,  Mr.  Hallam  went 
on : 

"I  have  all  my  life,  Robert,  been  a  great 
observer  of  character ;  and  when  I  first  began 
to  take  an  interest  in  you,  I  saw  there  was 
that  in  the  firm  tone  of  your  mind,  in  your 
noble  principles,  which  would  sustain  you — 
always  with  the  aid  of  God's  grace — in  the 
trying  circumstances  of  life.  But  you  needed 
discipline,  Robert.  There  was  a  tendency 
in  your  home  bringing  up  to  make  you  rely 
too  much  upon  others ;  and  you  would  un- 
doubtedly have  settled  down  without  exert- 


THE   DRIVER   BOY.'  249 

ing  yourself,  if  necessity  had  not  compelled 
you  to  seek  for  the  means  of  support.  This 
moral  and  mental  culture  has  been  of  use 
to  you,  my  boy.  If  I  had  not  thought  so, 
and  trusted  that  you  were  one  of  Christ's 
blessed  little  ones,  whom  he  keeps  as  the 
shepherd  does  his  lambs,  I  would  not  have 
been  willing  to  have  had  you  remain  as  long 
as  you  have  done  in  such  an  •  exposed  situa- 
tion." 

"  Why,  Mr.  Hallam,"  said  Robert,  with  an 
astonished  look,  "  did  you  know  where  I 
was  all  this  time?" 

Mr.  Hallam  smiled. 

"  I  suppose  you  will  hardly  forgive  me 
for  it,  Eobert ;  but  I  have  long  known  all 
about  you.  It  was  that  very  Bible,  which 
you  preferred  bringing  with  you  above  all 
your  other  books,  which  led  to  my  hearing 
of  your  situation.  The  missionary  who 
frequented  your  route,  and  visited  you  in 
your  illness,  saw  my  name  written  in  your 
Bible;  and  being  an  old  classmate  and  friend 
of  mine,  mentioned  what  he  considered  a 


250  LITTLE  BOB  TRUE, 

singular  circumstance  to  me,  on  our  next 
meeting.  Had  I  then  consulted  my  own  in- 
clinations, I  would  have  gone  at  once  to 
you  ;  but  I  reflected  how  little  time  you  had 
had  to  be  thrown  upon  your  own  resources ; 
and  that  you  needed  yet  more  experience  to 
fit  you  for  usefulness  in  life.  You  are  not 
sorry  now"  that  I  left  you,  and  enjoined  my 
friend,  if  you  asked  him,  not  to  inform  you 
about  me  ?" 

"No,"  said  Robert ;  "I  don't  regret  it  now, 
Mr.  Hallam.  I  am  only  too  happy  to  have 
found  you  at  last." 

"  And  now,  Robert,  I  have  made  prepara- 
tions for  you  to  continue  the  studies  which 
have  so  delighted  you.  As  I  told  your 
captain,  I  am  on  the  eve  of  starting  for  the 

west ;  being  sent  out  as  an  agent  by  the 

to  the  states  of and " 

"  Then  I  am  to  lose  you  again,  Mr.  Hallam, 
just  as  soon  as  I  have  found  you ;"  said 
Robert,  sorrowfully. 

"  Not  unless  you  refuse  to  go  with  me, 
Robert.  The  west  is  the  place  in  my  esti- 


THE   DRIVER  BOY.  251 

mation  for  rising  young  men  ;  especially 
self-made  men.  You  will  need,  however,  a 
great  deal  of  energy,  firm  decision  of  char- 
acter, and  good  principles,  joined  to  a  steady 
reliance  on  the  Almighty  as  Guide  and 
Director,  to  be  useful  in  any  station.  I  want 
you  to  look  to  him,  and  not  to  me  for  pro- 
tection. In  the  institution  in  which  I  shall 
place  you,  you  will  be  able  to  secure  a  good 
thorough  education  ;  at  the  same  time  having 
an  opportunity  of  defraying  its  expenses  by 
labouring  part  of  the  time  with  your  own 
hands  ; — a  system  I  think  well  calculated  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  both  mind  and  body, 
as  my  experience  has  fully  shown  you.  And 
in  whatever  place  Providence  may  place 
you,  Robert,  be  as  firm  and  true,  as  you  have 
been  when  a  friendless  DRIVER  BOY." 

And  now,  as  Robert  is  no  longer  very 
"  little,"  and  has  ceased  to  be  a  "  driver  boy," 
our  story  must  of  necessity  come  to  an  end. 
I  hope,  however,  that  he  never  forgot  that 
he  was  called  "  True;"  but  continued  true  to 


252  LITTLE   BOB   TRUE, 

nis  principles,  to  his  country,  and  to  God. 
That  he  gained  his  object  in  securing  a  good 
education  I  have  no  doubt ;  for  there  is  no 
one  in  this  favoured  land  who  may  not  have 
that  privilege.  But  whether  he  became  a 
minister  or  not — as  some  will  think  must  cer- 
tainly follow — is  a  question  which  cannot  be 
settled;  unless  you  should,  in  travelling  to 
the  far  west,  meet  with  some  one  who  answers 
to  your  idea  of  our  friend  Robert.  If  so,  and 
especially  if  there  should  be  a  little  pleasant- 
faced  wife  named  Lottie  in  the  case,  why  I 
would  not  wonder  if  you  had  found  the 
veritable  "Bob  True." 


THE   END. 


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